UNICEF moves to support Nigeria’s Humanitarian response with $270m

 

In a bid to support Nigeria’s humanitarian response and poverty alleviation efforts, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has pledged to support Nigeria with $270 million.

Country Representative UNICEF, Christian Mundate and lead the Chief of Health & HIV/AIDS, Eduardo Celades, made this known in Abuja during a working visit to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, on Tuesday.

This was contained in a statement by Mrs Rhoda Iliya, Deputy Director of the ministry adding that the UNICEF delegation also assured the minister of 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.

UNICEF, Country Representative, Mundate maintained that the delegation would facilitate effective coordination.

Furthermore, UNICEF also assured that 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.

In her response, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, explained that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has a phased strategy to lift 133 million Nigerians out of poverty, particularly the 71 million living on less than $1.95 per day.

Edu urged UNICEF to strategize and align its effort with the government’s poverty alleviation initiative, urging the fund to also draw up plans towards supporting the government on poverty alleviation.

“Time is of the essence and we need to run at the speed of light to roll out social programs 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,” the minister said.

The Minister however assured the delegation of transparency and accountability in the disbursing of the funds adding that the engagement with partners like UNICEF will continue until government achieves its targets.

Entrench Collaboration in Niger Delta Development, Stakeholders Charge NDDC

Niger Delta Stakeholders have charged the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to entrench collaboration and partnership in the development of the Niger Delta Region by holding quarterly Partners for Sustainable Development, PSD, forum for the various stages of its budgeting.

This was part of the resolutions contained in a communique issued at the end of a two-day PSD Forum, 2024 Budget of Reconstruction Conference Held at Ibom                                                                   Icon Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

In a statement by, Director, Corporate Affairs, NDDC, Pius Ughakpoteni and made available to journalists, the stakeholders also stressed the importance of the PSD forum in the Budgetary Process,

“The PSD Forum is aimed at eliminating duplications and institutional suspicions in the development process; reducing the incidence of working at cross purposes as well as reduce wastage of scarce resources allocated for regional development initiatives by all stakeholders.” they noted.

The stakeholders further resolved that the NDDC should focus on projects that would benefit the people of the region, stating: “The Commission should strike a balance between meeting the political demands and serving the people of the region by executing people centric projects.”

According to the communique, from the presentations, group discussions at the conference, it was agreed that “the NDDC should operate a lean budget that will allow and enable her to commence and complete projects within a certain and realistic budget cycle.”

It said further: “For the 2025 Budget, less of new projects should be captured in order to ensure the quick completion of all ongoing projects under the 2024 budget.”

The communique posited that the budget of the Commission should have a spread to cover the several ethnic nationalities and communities in the Niger Delta region.

The stakeholders Commended the Executive Management of the NDDC for resuscitating the PSD Forum, which was last held in 2016 and advised the Commission to maintain a timeline for the payment of contractors.

Group Accuses Tinubu, Ribadu Of Using Office For Personal Vendetta To Neglect North East

An APC group has accused the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu of using his office to pursue personal vendetta, saying the new administration is yet to constitute a security agenda.

While accusing the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of lopsidedness in the appointment heads of Nigerian security, the group in a release signed by the National Coordinator, Wasiu Oyebode Olakunle, wondered why most heads of security chiefs are from North West geopolitical zone. 

According to Olakunle, apart from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa who hails Zango Kataf, Kaduna State, Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar is also from North West, as well as the Director General DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi who hails from Bichi, Kano State, another North West region. 

Continuing, he further noted that the Director General NIA, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar also hails from Katsina North West Nigeria, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Jigawa, North West Nigeria and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Mattawale, who hails from Zamfara North West Nigeria.

Listing Ribadu's perceived offences, the group said, "Putting in place his political structure ahead of 2027 poll amidst insecurity in the country. 

"Turned to a journalist as well as a photo-journalist in the presidential villa most especially, when the president has visitors.

"Hosting and posting of pictures with political groups and Kannywood stars in his office".

The group expressed concern that Nigerian military is increasingly becoming demoralised, saying the bandits are now emboldened.

It called on the NSA and heads of defence, security and intelligence agencies to be more proactive to secure every swathes of the Nigerian territory.