Humanitarian minister calls for renewed efforts to take Nigerians out of poverty

Edu distributing relief materials to the victims

• More relief materials arrive Plateau state — Edu
• Nigerian Air Force to deliver to hinterlands

The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, on Tuesday, resumed in her office after her visit to Plateau State to provide humanitarian relief materials for persons affected by the massacre on Christmas eve.
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In a statement signed by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, Edu, while addressing members of staff on her first day in office in 2024, called for renewed, collaborative efforts to pull vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty.

She reiterated President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s commitment to eradicating poverty and reducing humanitarian challenges within the life of his administration.

In a related development, Edu also revealed that more humanitarian aid workers would be engaged to reduce unemployment in Plateau State.

Meanwhile, in line with the President’s directives, more relief materials had arrived Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and Mangu local councils of the state.

Edu said: “Communities are expected to work with the security agencies on ground to ensure protection and fair distribution of items to all affected persons. They include food and none food items as part of humanitarian response.’’

Also, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, who spoke through the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Wapkerem Maigida, assured the Minister that the Force would support the ministry to move both humanitarian aid workers and relief materials to states and the hinterlands, where they are most needed.

He made this pledge during his visit to the Minister. He said this was in line with their civil military relations service.
“Beyond security, the Nigerian Air Force provides humanitarian support to communities working with relevant government MDAs,” Maigida said.
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According to her, “What’s most important is that we must draw out our goals and we must be focused to achieve them. We must be transparent and accountable in our dealings, and we must put poor people first in all our interventions.

“We need to work as a team. We need to be more innovative , and we need to be more committed to work.”

She assured Nigerians that she would continue to work round the clock to meet 100 per cent, of the mandate given to the ministry by the president.

She noted that in the last one month, even during the Christmas and New Year break, she and her staff never went on break, as they were on the field attending to vulnerable Nigerians in various parts of the country.

“Even during the Christmas and new break, we were out there bringing succour to the poor and vulnerable in parts of the country in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President which aims to free Nigerians from the clutches of poverty.

“Throughout December, we achieved more milestones. Conditional cash transfer paid additional 532,000 persons following in person verification, Renewed Hope Shelter for Poor and IDPs completed ground clearing and grading of 10 hectares for the building of 40 houses the also installed bore holes to provide water for construction. The rural vocational skill program trained 500 people in Adamawa State, and we launched Renewed Hope Grant for vulnerable groups in Cross River state and some other states. N- Power got paid one month allowance out of their back log pending recovery of their funds removed from account.

Edu disclosed that in the coming weeks, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, would flag off many more social intervention schemes including the End Hunger and Code Nigeria programme, Grow Nigeria, and revitalise most programs under the ministry and its agencies. all these are geared towards giving vulnerable Nigerians a new lease of life.
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