Nigeria Secures UAE, IsDB Partnerships On Humanitarian Response At COP28

By Obiabin Onukwugha

The Nigerian Government has  secured a partnership with the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Red Crescent On Humanitarian Response for setting up of humanitarian regional hubs in the country.

This was the outcome of a meeting yesterday in Dubai between Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, and the Secretary General of the UAE Red Crescent, His Excellency Hammoud Al-Junaibi.

Edu who announced this in her verified X handle said:, “Earlier today, on the side line of COP28, I visited the Secretary General of the UAE Red Crescent, H.E Hammoud Al-Junaibi and Secured the Partnership With UAE Red Crescent On Humanitarian Response and Setting of Humanitarian Regional Hubs in Nigeria.”

The Minister had earlier secured a pledge from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), to help Nigeria in its response to humanitarian crisis during a high-level panel meeting held with critical stakeholders of some developing Countries and Development Partners at the ongoing COP28.

Speaking during the panel session, Edu called on world leaders to move from words to action and policy frameworks that leads to climate change adaptation.

She said: “It’s time for us to move from words, commitments, and policy frameworks to actual action and implementation of the climate change adaptation plan.

“The federal government of Nigeria is committed to active partnerships that will translate into solutions for millions of Nigerians.”

She continued: “Truly, Nigeria is deserving of the support of the bank given President Tinubu’s laudable programs and interventions in various sectors closely linked to climate change adaptation, especially Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Programs required to address issues resulting from flooding, erosions, drying up of the Lake Chad Basin among other issues that have taken away livelihoods, displaced millions and heightened insecurity and insurgence.”

The Minister said the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund by the Nigerian Government, was one of the administration’s many beautiful ideas to reduce the poverty index and promote prompt responses to humanitarian situations across Nigeria. “The ‘GROW NIGERIA’ is another intervention closely linked to climate change solutions,” she stated.

Responding, Chairman and Group Chief Executive of the Islamic Development Bank, (IsDB), Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, announced the pledge of the bank to help Nigeria scale up its response to humanitarian crisis and its drive to reduce the poverty index through the new Climate Change Adaptation Policy; “fair, inclusive, and just transition conceptual framework and action plan.”

The IsDB Chairman said the decision was part of efforts by the bank to align its objective with the “Paris Agreement.”

Al-Jasser also stated that climate change has exposed countries to disasters, poverty, insecurity, and humanitarian crises.

He disclosed that the Islamic Development Bank Group stands ready to play its part, support member countries, and work closely with strategic partners.

“We must quickly intervene to protect the population through social protection and scale up of the social safety net.

“Nigeria needs the support of the Islamic Development Bank through its beautiful initiatives. The time to act is now,” he said.

“This framework which is being launched here at COP 28 signals our readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders, governments, the private sector, civil society, and other development institutions to harness the immense potential of the Paris Agreement for sustainable development.

“In our current role as Chair of the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) Working Group on Climate Change, we seek to better coordinate efforts among MDBs at the country level and support the development of long-term national strategies,” he added.

Also, in attendance at the high-level meeting were the UN Assistant Secretary-General & CEO of African Risk Capacity Group, Mr. Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, ILO Director for Priority Action Program on Just Transitions, Dr. Moustapha Gueye, AGRA President, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, IsDB Director Resilience & Climate Action, Syed Husain Quadri, Manager Climate Change and Environment, Dr. Daouda Ndiaye, while the sideline panel was moderated by Dr. Zeinab Usman, Director of the Africa  Program Carnegie Endowment.