UNICEF to Commit $270m to Emergencies, Humanitarian Response in Nigeria

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has assured Nigeria of its willingness to commit $270 million towards the country’s humanitarian response, poverty alleviation, and emergencies.

UNICEF made the commitment yesterday after its Country Representative, Christian Mundate, and Chief of Health and HIV/AIDS, Eduardo Celades, met Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu in Abuja. It assured the federal government of its readiness to provide technical support to build capacity of the ministry’s staff as well as support the development of a Humanitarian Response Protocol for Nigeria to guide all humanitarian actors, saying this would facilitate effective coordination.

In addition, UNICEF said it will support the establishment of a National Humanitarian Situation Room or Humanitarian Emergency Operation Centre (H-EOC) to monitor, mitigate and prevent humanitarian emergencies and build resilience in the system.

Responding, Edu reiterated that the Bola Tinubu administration was committed to lifting 133 million poor Nigerians out of poverty in a phased approach, especially, the staggering 71 million extremely poor Nigerians living under one dollar ninety-five cents a day.

The minister charged UNICEF to also draw up plans towards supporting the federal government on poverty alleviation.

Edu said, “Time is of essence and we need to run at the speed of light to roll out social programmes that will bring relief to the burdens of the poor. Nigerians are eagerly waiting for full implementation of the Renewed Hope agenda, the time for intense action is now.”

She also assured UNICEF of the commitment to transparency and accountability in all the processes of the ministry, adding that engagement with international partners, like UNICEF, would continue until the federal government achieves its target.