By Obioma C. Appolos
Following a request for assistant by the Government of Nigeria, the United Nations has expressed its readiness to provide technical expertise to the newly created Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to enable it fast track its projects and achieve its mandate.
In response to the request made by Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the Humanitarian Affairs Minister at a one-day orientation retreat for the staff of the Ministry, held at the United Nations House in Abuja, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, pledged the UN’s readiness to provide technical expertise.
With an intent to fast track and succeed in its projects which the ministry is in dire need of, Hakka Umar-Farouq, had explained that technical support is needed to strengthen the internal structure of the newly-created Ministry in line with international best practices.
She however, acknowledged the existing partnership between the Federal government and the United Nations, and also noted that the existing relationship is an indication of its commitment towards facilitating and coordinating humanitarian services for the full implementation of the human rights and protection of all Nigerians.
Onward, the Minister started that the new Ministry was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari on 18th August, 2019 with the mandate of strengthening Nigeria’s institutional and legal framework for the coordination of humanitarian crises and disaster, as well as coordinating ongoing intervention and programmes delivered by government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“This leadership will be provided in three inter connected sectors namely, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. Our vision is therefore to have an inclusive social protection that is humane, inclusive and sustainable”. She said.
Also, she commended the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Heads of the UN Agencies for their continued support and enjoined the participants at the retreat to show a total sense of commitment and active participation to ensure that the objectives of the retreat were achieved.
Assured the Minister of UN’s readiness to partner with the ministry, the UN Nigeria Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, went on to encouraged the Ministry to utilise the three key words, Coordination, Coherence and Collaboration (CCC) in improving social protection system in the country.
In a closing remark, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Anetu-Anne Aliu, thanked the UN for organising the retreat for staff of the Ministry and called for more collaboration with government in the sector.
