The Federal Government has stated the eradication of poverty in Nigeria would reduce the level of insecurity witnessed across the country by over 50 per cent.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, 6 September 2023 while soliciting assistance from the Nigerian Air Force(NAF) in the delivery of relief materials and palliatives to the hard-to-reach areas in Nigeria.
According to the statement issued by her ministry, the minister made the request when she paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar, at the headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force(NAF).
Edu, who identified poverty as an enabler of insecurity which had led to humanitarian crises, said “when we win the war against poverty we would have won the war against insecurity by over 50 per cent. Please, fly us to those hard-to-reach areas.”
The Minister told her host that the Nigerian Air Force would be critical to her ministry’s success in getting humanitarian aid to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.
Edu also sought assistance to deliver humanitarian workers, relief materials to remote areas, as well as the evacuation of Nigerians from areas under threat, both within and outside the country.
“I’m sure you are quite aware that we have a good number of persons who are either internally displaced or refugees and are in need of humanitarian assistance, some of whom are in areas where it is difficult to access them by road due to insecurity.
“We will be seeking your support to see that we can get through to them to deliver humanitarian services, including palliatives. We are counting on you for support in terms of intelligence, security, and to see that our job is made easier, better and success is achieved,” the Minister stated.
Edu also pledged to capture the families of deceased servicemen in the poverty alleviation scheme of her ministry and requested for deployment of air force personnel to the ministry as desk officers for proper liaison.
On his part, Abubakar pledged the cooperation and partnership of the Nigerian Air Force with the Edu’s ministry in addressing critical humanitarian challenges facing the country.
“Your presence here underscores our shared commitment to the well-being of our fellow citizens during their most trying times.
“The challenges that confront us in the humanitarian sphere are multifaceted.
“Nigeria faces crises triggered by conflicts, natural disasters and displacement, each presenting unique complexities.
“Responding to these crises effectively requires a coordinated and unified approach, pooling the resources and expertise of various agencies and departments, and that is precisely what we both represent in our various rights. We will do better, we will give all the support you need,” he stated.
