In a recent meeting at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Government of Nigeria reiterated the importance of proper coordination in humanitarian responses, aiming to eliminate duplication, maximize resources, and enhance accountability.
The call for collaboration was made by the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, during discussions with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)on Wednesday.
Dr. Edu emphasized that all development partners, particularly UN agencies providing humanitarian services in Nigeria, should align their plans for 2024 with the priorities set by the government.
The Minister expressed a commitment to leading humanitarian situation reviews, utilizing dashboards, and implementing operations to ensure a cohesive and effective response to the country’s humanitarian challenges.
“We need to make joint decisions, Government must be on the driver’s seat, we don’t want to be informed and communicated but we must plan together and implement together that way we can hold each other accountable for what goes on in the field,” stated Dr. Edu.
Addressing the issue of duplicating functions and services in the humanitarian space, the Minister declared an end to working in silos and emphasized the importance of integration and coordination among all development partners in Nigeria.
As part of the renewed approach, Dr. Edu announced the organization of quarterly meetings with development partners and agencies involved in humanitarian services. These meetings aim to facilitate proper planning and coordination of activities in the field.
The Minister highlighted the introduction of a dashboard to monitor the operations and impacts of all development partners, ensuring a feedback mechanism through rigorous monitoring and evaluation.
Commending the efforts of UN agencies in Nigeria on humanitarian response, Dr. Edu announced plans for field assessments with development partners as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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She also urged the immediate deployment of humanitarian services to Benue State, stressing the urgency of the situation there.
In response to the government’s call for collaboration, Sofie Gerde Thomie, the UN OCHA Deputy Director Operations and Advocacy Division in West and Central Africa, acknowledged the humanitarian agenda set by President Tinubu.
Thomie expressed the UN’s commitment to understanding the situation in Nigeria and supporting government efforts in addressing humanitarian concerns, particularly in the Bornu, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) States.
The Head of Office in Nigeria for UN OCHA, Troud Jensen, provided insights into the agency’s support for those affected by the humanitarian crisis in BAY states.
Despite investing $50 million in nutrition and social services, Jensen highlighted the continued need for humanitarian support and pledged $440 million in 2024 to alleviate the sufferings of those affected.
In addition to supporting the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund, UN OCHA outlined plans for interventions in nutrition, security, climate change, and provision of shelter.
The agency reported reaching 3.4 million people in the current year through the provision of nutrition, shelter, and water.
The commitment from both the Federal Government and UN OCHA signals a collaborative effort to enhance the efficiency and impact of humanitarian responses in Nigeria, with a specific focus on the BAY states.
As the year 2024 approaches, the coordinated approach aims to bring about positive and sustainable changes in addressing the country’s pressing humanitarian challenges.
