The Federal Government says it has developed policies and strategies aimed at creating a supportive environment for humanitarian work.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Nasir Sani Gwarzo, disclosed this during the commemoration of 2023 World Humanitarian Day on Friday in Abuja.
Gwarzo explained that the ministry’s aim is to ensure seamless coordination and operation in the humanitarian sphere, guided by a cohesive framework that emphasizes the interdependence of humanitarian, development, and peace aspects.
According to him, the declaration of state of emergency on food security highlights the government’s commitment in addressing food security, pricing, and sustainability under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
“Recalling recent events, the federal government, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has taken momentous strides in addressing food security, pricing, and sustainability. The declaration of a state of emergency on food security stands as a testament to the administration’s resolve.
“Furthermore, the Ministry has formulated policies and strategies aimed at fostering an enabling environment within the humanitarian sphere, facilitating seamless coordination and operation. These strategies are meticulously constructed through the lens of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus — a cohesive framework that underscores the interdependence of these fundamental pillars,” he said.
On government’s strategy to address conflicts and insecurity to enhance food production, Gwarzo said, “Our strategies are multifaceted and we have multiple partnerships with various agencies and ministries.”
He added that the ministry has about eight programs that are channeling support in different ways to communities to alleviate the suffering of people.
“We have a robust database that enables us to predict patterns that will evolve in the future so that we can even prepare for times ahead. So I think the ministry is well positioned not only to handle what is happening now, but also to predict and start preparing for what we are to expect in the future in the country, ” he said.
He, however, expressed deep concern over the tragic loss of 37 Aid Workers, with 24 wounded and 34 kidnapped in the North East of Nigeria.
“Regrettably, since 2016, the Aid Workers Security Database has recorded the tragic loss of 37 aid workers, with 24 wounded and 34 kidnapped in the North East of Nigeria. The current year has already witnessed the kidnapping of five aid workers in the North East, alongside similar incidents from various corners of our nation.
“As we gather here today to mark World Humanitarian Day, it is vital to acknowledge that countless individuals are grappling with humanitarian crises across Nigeria. These crises stem from diverse causes, ranging from insurgency and banditry to clashes between farmers and herders, compounded by the impacts of climate change.”
“According to the UNHCR Operating Data, a staggering 3,578,966 internally displaced persons were recorded as of June 2023 in the North East, North West, and North Central regions of Nigeria. Families, venerable and resilient, find themselves navigating dire circumstances, often contending with acute needs such as sustenance, shelter, water, protection, and livelihoods,” he said.
