The minister of state for humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, has said the ministry will take a holistic approach toward addressing humanitarian and poverty-related issues in Nigeria.
He disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the deputy governor of Plateau State, Josephine Piyo.
A statement issued by the director of information and public relations, Iliya Rhoda Ishaku, said the ministry proposed establishing a strong council on humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction in 2025.
“Presently, every state is handling humanitarian issues in different ways, and there is a need to have a coordinated approach. The only way is to have a council that will draft a policy that will carry everybody along for everyone to have a sense of belonging,” he said.
He said Plateau is one of the states that had suffered a lot of crises and displacement of people, and there was a need for the state government to establish the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to coordinate humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction issues in the state.
Dr Sununu told the deputy governor that he and his team were on an advocacy visit to establish a good working relationship between the ministry and the state government.
“There is a need for collaboration between the ministry, state governments and international partners to pull resources together to impact the lives of the internally displaced persons, refugees, vulnerable persons and persons of concern”.
He was also in the state to provide relief materials to IDPs and flag off the harvest of the Renewed Hope Agricultural Empowerment Project for IDPs.
He thanked the state government for providing 200 hectares of land through one of the sons of the state, where IDPs were organized to improve their farming skills. The agricultural project is sponsored by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).
“It will serve as a stop gap, as the IDPs are disengaged and resettled in their communities, they have skills and what they can rely on.
The minister also disclosed that the ministry would embark on three projects starting in January 2025 to empower Nigerians. These include agricultural innovation, which will empower millions of Nigerians in green farming; Automobile Maintenance, where the youths will be trained and given starter packs; and Renewable Energy, where Nigerians will be trained on solar installations and other solar businesses.
He called for the support of the Plateau government towards achieving the projects in the state.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the state government on the appointment of the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the illustrious son of the state. By this appointment, the ministry will collaborate strongly with the state to deliver the dividend of democracy for Nigerians.
The governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, who Piyo represented, appreciated the president and his wife for showing care and love for vulnerable citizens in the country and for appointing the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, who is an indigene of the state.
He acknowledged that the state has many displaced persons and will collaborate with the ministry to ensure that all the ministry’s programmes succeed in Plateau State.
