The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, on Tuesday unveiled plans to visit Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Refugee Camps in Borno State as part of ongoing plans to address the menace of humanitarian crises in the country.
Dr. Edu, who disclosed this during a working visit to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, unveiled plans to expand the Social Register with a view to capture Nigerian Air Force personnel as well as Families of personnel who died in the course of service to their Fatherland, in various National Social Intervention Programmes.
She said: “we want to have a very close relationship and we want your support all the way to make our job a lot easier. Beginning from this week, we are heading to Borno State, where we’ll be visiting IDP camps, Refugee camps and even the Amnesty camps to carry out some interventions.
“We believe that you would have your men on the ground to give us all the support that we need.”
While reiterating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration’s resolve towards reducing to barest minimum, various humanitarian crises and ending poverty in Nigeria, Dr. Edu said: “Of course, he has an 8-point agenda and one of the close strong points at the front burner is eradicating poverty.
“These are mandates and we believe that in the cost of delivering on this mandate, your collaboration, your cooperation with us, your support for the ministry, cannot be overemphasized is highly needed. And we need you to come fully on board as you’ve always done to ensure that you give us all the support.
“Coming down to specifics. I’m sure you’re quite aware that we have a good number of persons who are either internally displaced or they’re refugees or migrants or persons of concern really, and their communities some of them are in areas where it’s difficult to actually assess them, for one reason or the other.
“We will be seeking your support to see that we can assess them through your operations where they asked you to deliver humanitarian services to them or most times, it’s not just going in as individuals, but the ability to take commodities, welfare items, amongst other things, including palliatives, all the way down to those who are affected by humanitarian crises and at areas where we might have security or physical barriers, assessing them through the road or probably by water.
“Beyond this, sometimes both outside and within Nigeria.
“So, on the international scene we might have a humanitarian crisis where there is a need for us to evacuate Nigerians from any location back to our country. We’ll be seeking for collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force to be able to carry out operations activities both within and outside the country. We’re counting on you for support in terms of intelligence, we’re counting on you for support.
“In terms of security, we’re counting on you for support within your mandate to see that our job is achieved. And we achieved the results that Mr. President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants to see. Remember, it’s a ‘renewed hope agenda’, and he’s committed to truly renewing the hopes of Nigerians.”
In his remarks, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar who applauded the Minister’s gesture and innovative policies in addressing critical humanitarian challenges facing our nation, pledged support for the successful implementation of the programmes.
“Your presence here underscores our shared commitment to the well-being of our fellow citizens during their most trying times. The challenges that confront us in the humanitarian sphere are multifaceted. Nigeria faces crises triggered by conflicts, natural disasters, and displacement, each presenting unique complexities.
“Responding to these crises effectively requires a coordinated and unified approach, pooling the resources and expertise of various agencies and departments, and that is precisely what we both represent in our various rights.
“First and foremost, let me emphasize the Nigerian Air Force’s long standing collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). This partnership has proven to be invaluable in our collective efforts to respond to emergencies and provide critical relief to affected communities. Together with NEMA, we have faced natural disasters such as floods, and the results of this partnership have been evident in the swift response, timely evacuation, and provision of aid to disaster-affected communities. On the 4 Jul 23, we received the DG of NEMA here at HQ NAF and we sought a re-tightening of the existing partnership between NEMA and the NAF.
“We have carried out several operations in support of NEMA. Within the last 5 years, some of our operations in support of NEMA include Airlift of NEMA Teams to various locations in Nigeria. Additionally, the NAF airlifted relief materials to Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique in June 2019. A similar airlift was carried out to the same countries on September 19. Moreso, airlift of NEMA DG from Abj – Dutse was carried out in July 20 and airlift of refugees was carried out in Maroua, Cameroon to Yola in August 2019. Recently in 2023, stranded Nigerians from Sudan were also airlifted back to Nigeria.
“One of our constitutional roles is aid to civil authority. Our commitment to military aid to civil authority is unwavering. We understand that in times of crisis, the Nigerian Air Force must stand ready to provide essential support to civil authorities. This includes airlift support, logistics expertise, and specialized disaster response teams. Our teams are trained and equipped to respond swiftly to disaster-stricken areas, ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
“Moreover, we view our role in military aid to civil authority not merely as a duty but as an opportunity to serve our fellow citizens. Our Air Men and Air Women are dedicated to this cause, and we continuously invest in their training and equipment to ensure that we maintain the highest standards of readiness.
“The Nigerian Air Force is deeply committed to disaster relief efforts, and our resources are at the forefront of these missions. We have developed specialized capabilities for disaster response, including airlift support, medical teams, and search and rescue operations. Our aircraft have been instrumental in reaching remote and inaccessible areas during emergencies.
“As we stand here today, I want to emphasize that we can achieve even greater success by enhancing our collaborative efforts. Effective coordination is the cornerstone of any successful humanitarian mission. To that end, I propose several key areas where we can strengthen our partnership. Some of the areas for partnership are joint training and capacity building where we can consider joint training programs and capacity-building initiatives.
“We can also optimize disaster response protocols to enable us act swiftly, minimize duplication of efforts and ensure more efficient allocation of resources. Resource allocation is a critical aspect of humanitarian response. By collaborating closely, we can ensure that aid reaches those in need in a timely and efficient manner.
“In this age of rapid technological advancements, we should explore innovative solutions. Technologies such as drones and data analytics can revolutionize our humanitarian operations, making them more effective and efficient.
“Our joint efforts should be transparent and well-communicated to the Nigerian people. Public support is integral to our success, and we must ensure they are informed about the positive impact of our collaboration. Also, ensuring the security and safety of humanitarian workers and assets during operations is paramount. Let us collectively address this challenge to ensure the safety of all involved.”
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