The Federal Government declared on Friday that its objective extends beyond merely eradicating poverty; it also aims to shield Nigerians from falling into poverty. Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, made this announcement during a two-day working visit to Maiduguri, Borno State. The statement was issued in Abuja by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Zubair.
During her visit, the minister was welcomed by Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum. She conveyed that President Bola Tinubu has committed to reducing humanitarian crises and eliminating poverty in Nigeria, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2.
Edu expressed, “It is important that the humanitarian ministry renews its partnership with the state and leverage on the state’s successes and experience to find better ways of doing things. The ministry under me will not only aim at eliminating poverty, but it shall also provide safety nets to prevent Nigerians from going under the poverty line.”
Furthermore, she informed the governor that the Federal Government is dedicated to repatriating Nigerian refugees and migrants to their respective homes by 2024.
She emphasized the necessity of establishing structures to facilitate the repatriation and reintegration of internally displaced persons into their respective communities. Additionally, she stated that the national social register would undergo a thorough cleanup and expansion to accommodate a greater number of individuals, aligning with established targets.
Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, added, “The ministry shall establish humanitarian hubs in all Local Government Areas as a deliberate policy of targeting the grassroots, as well as the rural poor that are more in large numbers in communities and villages. The ministry shall deliberately create job opportunities for youth on a short and long term basis, giving micro-credits, vocational training, among others.”
Governor Zulum assured the minister of his government’s unwavering commitment to addressing humanitarian issues and poverty in Borno State. He emphasized that addressing poverty would ultimately contribute to resolving insecurity, highlighting that sustaining internally displaced persons in camps was not a viable long-term solution.