The Nigerian Government says it’s adopting a whole of Society and a whole of Government approach to humanitarian delivery.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo stated this at a ‘Closeout meeting’ of the World Food Programme, WFP, The Nigerian Red Cross and the ECOWAS.
The Meeting was on the Stabilisation Fund in the North East, and North West of Nigeria on the delivery of assistance to the population affected by the 2020 flood in member States.
He said the socioeconomic impact of the 2020 flood was devastating and resulted in the loss of lives and livelihoods in communities across the Six geopolitical zone in Nigeria.
…FMHADMSD, ECOWAS, WFP and NRCS, at the Project Closure Meeting, on 2nd May, 2023. In Abuja
— Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs (@FMHDSD) May 2, 2023
“In response to the directive of the authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS that the Commission initiated the two projects for Nigeria and another member States to support their efforts in addressing the humanitarian situations.
“The projects were successfully implemented and they touched many lives in the Northeast and North West as well as in the other geopolitical zones of the country.
According to him, the humanitarian assistance was specifically for flood victims, shelter kits and household items as well as water sanitation were implemented across the 16 flood most affected States.
“Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi, Yobe, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Anambra.
“A total number of flood victims that benefited from the project both in cash and in-kind were 13,000 persons.
Sani-Gwarzo noted that the Stabilisation fund project was implemented in Six Local Government Areas in the North East and North West respectively with a total of 27,432 persons impacted across the selected LGAs.
The President of ECOWAS, Dr Omar Tourey said the stabilization fund deployed by ECOWAS was a donation from the 50th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Governments of the ECOWAS Commission, to support the Government of Nigeria.
The fund was to particularly support the Buhari plan for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the northeast of Nigeria.
“The 15 Heads of State decided we have to accompany Nigeria, and they accompanied Nigeria, not by words, but by action. And they committed 1 million United States dollars to Nigeria to help provide humanitarian assistance and support the Buhari plan. As a Commission, our role is to accompany the Member States. We had a good partnership with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and disaster management and Social Development. We work together, of course under the umbrella of the permanent mission of Nigeria and we were able to identify WFP as a credible partner to work with.”
According to Dr Tourey who was represented by the Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs of the ECOWAS Commission, Sintika Tarfa said the project has enhanced the resilience of thousands of vulnerable people.
“Given that the humanitarian situation continues to exist in our region and you know, in our region generally, not only in Nigeria, the ECOWAS commission will continue to accompany the government and people of West Africa.
“They are saying, let’s all see what you mean by the ECOWAS of the people. We are working very hard now with the Food and Agricultural Agency of ECOWAS, based in Lome to provide enriched flour Worth 731 USD to support malnutrition in Nigeria.
For his part, the Nigeria Red Cross Society said the project is a partnership that’ll continue to work.
“The institution involved are those that are committed to the most vulnerable in such a situation. Therefore we worked hard to see that succour came to those who needed it.”
He added that the Nigerian Red Cross Society has more than 800 volunteers spread over 37 branches which are in the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT.
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