By Israel Adamu, Jos
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Mohammed Doro, has called for the urgent consolidation of Nigeria’s humanitarian and poverty reduction efforts under a unified national framework, advocating the adoption of a “One Humanitarian, One Poverty Reduction System” anchored on a functional National Social Register (NSR).
Dr. Doro made the call on Tuesday at a one-day High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Strengthening Sub-National Ownership and Results-Based Financing (RBF) for Humanitarian and Development Interventions in Nigeria. The event was held at the European Union (EU) Embassy Conference Hall in Abuja.
Addressing policymakers, development partners, and humanitarian actors, the minister stressed that effective coordination, credible data, and strong sub-national ownership were essential to delivering measurable outcomes for vulnerable Nigerians. He noted that states and local governments play a critical role in first-line humanitarian response amid recurrent flooding, insecurity-induced displacement, and rising socio-economic vulnerabilities.
“States and local governments are closest to the people. They understand the realities on the ground, and any humanitarian or poverty reduction system that sidelines them will struggle to deliver timely and sustainable impact,” Doro said.
According to a statement issued to journalists in Jos, the dialogue was convened to strengthen the operational capacity of state ministries responsible for humanitarian affairs. This includes improved budgeting, enhanced preparedness and emergency response systems, and the integration of humanitarian planning into state development frameworks.
The minister added that the forum also aimed to build consensus around state-led early warning and early action mechanisms, as well as improved coordination among State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), local governments, and community-based responders.
A key focus of the engagement was the application of Results-Based Financing to improve accountability, mobilise domestic resources, and link public spending to verifiable outcomes in humanitarian and poverty reduction programmes.
Unveiling a major policy direction, Dr. Doro announced plans to institutionalise the One Humanitarian, One Poverty Reduction System, a unified national platform designed to harmonise interventions across government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector.
He explained that the system would deliver real-time data, reduce duplication, enhance transparency, and ensure that funding is tied to measurable results rather than fragmented activities.
Central to this vision, the minister emphasised, is a credible and functional National Social Register.
“A functional National Social Register is the backbone of any serious humanitarian or social protection system,” Doro said. “Without reliable and regularly updated data on who the poor and vulnerable are, where they live, and the shocks they face, resources will continue to be spent without precision.”
He said ongoing reforms were aimed at repositioning the NSR as the single source of truth for beneficiary targeting, intervention coordination, and tracking exit pathways from vulnerability to self-reliance.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, highlighted the constitutional basis for collaboration across all tiers of government, noting that humanitarian action and poverty reduction are embedded in Nigeria’s development framework.
The EU Head of State, Human Development, Ms. Leila Ben Amor Mathieu, reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen local ownership, accountability, and sustainable financing.
The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening sub-national leadership, improving emergency preparedness, and advancing results-based financing to ensure humanitarian interventions deliver lasting impact nationwide.
