By Paul Joseph
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with state governments to improve humanitarian response and expand social protection programmes, with Kaduna and Niger states identified as key partners in delivering sustainable interventions for vulnerable Nigerians.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving separate delegations from Kaduna and Niger states during courtesy visits to his office.
During a meeting with the Kaduna State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Comrade Yunana Markus Barde, and the Chairman of the Kaduna State House of Assembly Committee on Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Umar Auwal Bajimi, the minister outlined ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing humanitarian service delivery nationwide.
Dr. Doro highlighted the launch of the National Poverty Lab, describing it as a key initiative to promote evidence-based policymaking and accelerate poverty reduction. He also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to implementing the One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), a coordinated framework designed to strengthen collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments in addressing humanitarian challenges.
The minister commended the Kaduna State Government for its active participation in the ministry’s programmes, particularly the rollout of OHOPRS, and expressed his intention to visit the state to further strengthen collaboration and advance shared humanitarian priorities.
Earlier, Commissioner Barde congratulated the minister on the recent wedding of his daughter and praised the ministry’s efforts to foster stronger cooperation with state governments. He appealed for increased federal support for humanitarian councils established across Kaduna’s local government areas, as well as enhanced interventions for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
In a separate engagement, Dr. Doro received the Niger State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim Inga, who led a delegation that included the Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and senior officials of the ministry.
Dr. Inga commended the Federal Ministry for strengthening collaboration with state humanitarian institutions, describing the renewed partnership as unprecedented and beneficial to states grappling with humanitarian crises.
He noted that Niger State continues to face significant humanitarian challenges and appealed for sustained federal intervention, recalling previous support from the ministry which, he said, had positively impacted affected communities.
Responding, the minister reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to working closely with state governments to improve humanitarian response, coordinate interventions and enhance the welfare of vulnerable citizens.
Dr. Doro stressed that effective humanitarian action depends on strong partnerships across all levels of government, assuring that the ministry would continue to support states through coordinated, people-centred and sustainable programmes aimed at reducing poverty and strengthening social protection nationwide.
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