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  • Nigeria Strengthens Humanitarian and Social Protection Systems with Global Partners

    Nigeria Strengthens Humanitarian and Social Protection Systems with Global Partners

    By Israel Adamu, Jos

    Nigeria has deepened coordination with international partners to strengthen its humanitarian and social protection systems, following high-level engagements in Abuja on Tuesday. The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Mohammed Doro, hosted delegations from the World Bank, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the Social Protection Development Partners Group (SP-DPG).The meetings highlighted growing global confidence in the direction set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.The World Bank delegation, led by West Africa Practice Manager Mr. Robert Chase, commended Nigeria’s efforts to establish a transparent, data-driven social protection system. Dr. Doro emphasized that the National Social Register, now covering nearly 20 million households, is being upgraded as a nationwide platform for identifying and delivering support to vulnerable Nigerians.“

    The reforms initiated by President Tinubu have strengthened the fiscal capacity of state governments, allowing them to play a more effective role in humanitarian and poverty-reduction programs,” Dr. Doro said. The World Bank welcomed the Ministry’s forthcoming Strategic Partnership Framework, describing it as a major step toward harmonizing federal, state, partner, and civil society efforts.In a subsequent session, the ICRC delegation, led by Doris El Doueihy, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting conflict-affected communities in the North-East. The ICRC briefed Dr. Doro on ongoing operations in health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and protection services for vulnerable groups. The delegation also commended Nigeria’s progress in domesticating the Kampala Convention and the Ministry’s leadership in addressing the longstanding challenge of over 24,000 missing persons.Dr. Doro assured the ICRC of Nigeria’s commitment to proactive, accountable, and people-centered humanitarian governance under President Tinubu’s guidance.

    The day concluded with the Social Protection Development Partners Group, which includes the EU, UNICEF, Germany, WFP, UNDP, the US Government, Action Against Hunger, and ILO. Partners shared updates on interventions covering cash transfers, food security, livelihoods, data systems, and social safety nets across multiple states. They expressed alignment with Nigeria’s efforts for improved coordination, sustainable financing, and unified monitoring of social protection programs.

    Dr. Doro reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to building a seamless national humanitarian and social protection architecture driven by data, collaboration, and accountability. He highlighted President Tinubu’s focus on green-economy initiatives such as clean cooking, carbon credits, and tree planting as pathways for poverty reduction and private-sector participation. Plans were also announced for a national Social Protection, Poverty Reduction, Humanitarian, and Peacebuilding Summit early next year.Delegations left with a clear message: Nigeria is resetting its humanitarian and social protection systems with renewed clarity, purpose, and global support. Partners expressed confidence that the country is moving steadily toward a more secure, resilient, and inclusive future for its most vulnerable citizens.

  • ICRC seeks to partner FG on solving cases of 24,000 requests on missing persons in Nigeria during disasters

    ICRC seeks to partner FG on solving cases of 24,000 requests on missing persons in Nigeria during disasters

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    The International Committee of Red Cross ICRC has sought to partner with the Nigerian Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development on solving 24,000 requests made by Nigerian families on their missing persons during disasters.

    Vice President of the ICRC Gilles Carbonnier made this request when he paid a courtesy call on the the Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Mr Carbonnier noted that a total of 2.2m Displaced persons were domiciled in the North East also offered the services of its Central Tracing Agency in finding missing persons during disasters as well as the forensic management of the dead during emergencies.

    “ We have received 24,000 requests from Nigerian families who came to us to ask for news of their daughters or sons who are
    unaccounted for. We seek to work with different entities to progress in the resolution of these missing cases. In Africa, this accounts for half of the case load of missing persons on the continent.”

    “We also have strong expertise in forensic science on how to deal with what we call dead body management in cases of emergencies, to help in the dignified management of the dead and also ensure that people don’t go missing during emergencies and disasters.”

    “We celebrated the 100th anniversary of our Central Tracing Agency that deals with identifying missing persons and reconnecting them with their families. In that framework, I think that it will be good for Nigeria to have an inter
    -ministerial mechanism where these cases of missing persons can first be registered in a central data base. ”

    “We also seek the domestication or implementation of traditions of the Kampala convention and see how we can assist in finding feasible solutions that are consistent with the principles of the Kampala Conventions.”

    Farouq appreciated the International Committee of Red Cross for its numerous humanitarian works in Nigeria especially in the North East and their provision of support and succor for the displaced persons affected by disaster.

    She said,” The main focus here apart from the humanitarian intervention is is to provide durable solutions to these vulnerable groups.”

    According to her the Federal government has approved the National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons which also includes working towards the domestication of the Kampala Convention. We are working with the National Assembly and relevant authorities, she informed.

    “The ministry is keen on working with the ICRC on missing persons to learn from your expertise on addressing these issues. There are a lot of issues of unaccompanied minors in the IDP camps who have lost their parents and we don’t even know their identities.”

    “This is something the government is working on to see how these unaccompanied minors can be identified. We can collaborate with your Agency to trace their identities and find lasting solutions to missing persons in emergency situations.”

    According to the minister the forensic science of managing mass fatalities during disasters is very important as well and I am sure that the National Emergency Management Agency will key into this forensic support a noting that
    these are areas that the ministry is very much interested in.

    On the ICRCS delegation were Bruno Raymond, Protection Coordinator ICRC Geneva, Mona Sadek, Deputy Regional Director for Africa and Head of delegation ICRC Abuja Yann Benton.