Establishment Of Humanitarian Ministry Was Deliberate Response To Growing Complexity Of Humanitarian Crises – Dr Doro

Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro has stated that the establishment of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in 2019 was a deliberate response to the growing scale and complexity of humanitarian crises, poverty, displacement and social vulnerability in Nigeria.

Dr. Bernard M. Doro made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the three day Maiden National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Convened in Calabar, Cross River State.

The Minister highlighted the Ministry’s interventions through its Departments and Agencies, including the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the National Senior Citizens Centre, and the SDGs Office.

He disclosed that the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, anchored on the National Social Register, has reached over 8.3 million households, benefiting more than 35 million Nigerians, with plans to scale up to 15 million households nationwide.

He emphasized that the National Council is not symbolic but an institutional vehicle for harmonizing humanitarian and poverty reduction interventions, eliminating duplication, strengthening data-driven decision-making, aligning financing and ensuring measurable outcomes across Federal, State and Local Levels with key stakeholders from across the federation reaffirming their commitment to strengthened collaboration, inclusive governance and a unified approach to humanitarian response and poverty reduction in Nigeria.

In his opening remarks, the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, described the Council as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s collective journey toward building a more equitable and humane society.

He stressed that humanitarian action and poverty reduction are not merely responsibilities but privileges that must be pursued with compassion, diligence and unwavering commitment.

Dr. Sununu underscored the importance of collaboration among Federal and State Governments, Civil Society, Development Partners and Local Communities, noting that humanitarian challenges cannot be addressed in isolation. He assured Stakeholders of the Federal Government’s readiness to implement actionable resolutions arising from the Council in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Declaring the Council open on behalf of the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Agbe Odey, reaffirmed the State’s commitment to the humanitarian and social welfare agenda of the Federal Government. He described poverty as a major driver of insecurity and stressed that defeating poverty would significantly reduce social vices and instability.

Rt. Hon. Odey outlined key humanitarian challenges facing Cross River State, including thousands of internally displaced persons, over 50,000 registered Cameroonian refugees, recurrent flooding and erosion, seasonal windstorms, and widespread livelihood vulnerability in rural communities.

He called for strengthened partnerships with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, development partners and humanitarian actors to address these challenges through durable solutions, emergency preparedness, livelihood empowerment and post-disaster rehabilitation.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Cross River State, Dr. Helen Agan Isamoh, warmly received delegates and described the Council as a historic and defining moment in Nigeria’s humanitarian governance architecture. She expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose leadership and commitment to inclusive governance led to the creation of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

Dr. Isamoh commended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, and the Ministry’s leadership for convening the maiden Council and thanked the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, for approving and supporting the hosting of the event in Calabar, the People’s Paradise.

She highlighted Cross River State’s humanitarian realities, including the presence of Cameroonian refugees, internally displaced persons, flood- and erosion-prone communities, and the State’s ongoing interventions in relief distribution, livelihood support, skills acquisition and psycho-social care.

She emphasized the need for enhanced federal collaboration, funding and technical assistance, noting that Commissioners at the sub-national level remain the frontline implementers of humanitarian and social protection programmes.

Other highlights of the event was the Lecture on the Council’s Theme: Beyond the National Strengthening Sub-National and Multi-Stakeholder Synergy for a Unified Approach to Humanitarian Response and Poverty Reduction by Dr. Umar Bindir, goodwill messages, Presentation of the Report of the Technical Session by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, Deliberation of the Technical Report, Adoption of the 1st NCHAPR Report, the Presentation and Adoption of the Draft Communiqué and Cultural Performance.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Mr Olubunmi Olusanya, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to translating the outcomes of the Council into concrete actions that will strengthen humanitarian response systems and accelerate poverty reduction across all states of the Federation.

He emphasized that the resolutions reached at the Council would serve as a guiding framework for enhanced coordination, accountability, and impact at both national and sub-national levels.

Mr. Olusanya concluded by urging all stakeholders to sustain the momentum generated by the Council through continuous collaboration, knowledge sharing, and decisive implementation of agreed priorities.

The Council meeting brought together members of the National Assembly, representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser, State Executive Councils, State Houses of Assembly, various State Commissioners & Permanent Secretaries, traditional rulers, development partners, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the media.

Participants reaffirmed their collective resolve to institutionalize humanitarian governance, strengthen Federal, State coordination, promote inclusive and people-centred interventions, and ensure that no Nigerian is left behind in the journey toward resilience, recovery and poverty reduction and sub-national levels.

He concluded by urging all stakeholders to sustain the momentum generated by the Council through continuous collaboration, knowledge sharing, and decisive implementation of agreed priorities.

The 1st National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction was formally declared closed with a call for renewed dedication to building a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Nigeria where humanitarian service restores dignity and poverty reduction opens pathways to opportunity for all.

The three-day Council brought together Federal and State Actors, Development Partners, International Organizations, Civil Society Groups, and other key stakeholders, reinforcing the importance of a unified, multi-stakeholder approach to addressing Nigeria’s humanitarian and poverty challenges.