The Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in partnership with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), has held a Humanitarian/Civil-Military Coordination Roundtable to strengthen civilian protection and improve humanitarian assistance across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
The roundtable, held at the OPHK Headquarters Conference Room, brought together representatives of humanitarian organisations, the Borno State Government and other stakeholders to address challenges affecting humanitarian operations and explore ways to improve coordination and access to vulnerable communities.
The engagement was co-chaired by the Theatre Commander, OPHK, Major General AE Abubakar, and the Deputy Head of Office, UN OCHA North East Nigeria, Patricia Mucheche.
Speaking at the event, Abubakar described the meeting as timely and important in strengthening cooperation between the military and humanitarian community.
He noted that the roundtable, held four years after the last engagement, was in line with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff to reinforce the Nigerian Army’s commitment to humanitarian support.
The Theatre Commander stressed that while military operations remained necessary to degrade the capabilities of terrorist groups, humanitarian interventions were equally critical to protecting civilians, facilitating the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and restoring socio-economic activities.
He identified the protection of civilians and returning IDPs, security of major humanitarian supply routes, protection of farmers and livelihoods, prevention of misconduct and stronger relations between military and humanitarian partners as key areas requiring closer coordination.
Abubakar also acknowledged challenges confronting humanitarian operations, including improvised explosive device threats, the movement of large volumes of cash, access restrictions, the security of humanitarian personnel and assets, and funding constraints.
He called for open and constructive dialogue among stakeholders to address the challenges and expressed appreciation to UN OCHA, humanitarian partners and the International Committee of the Red Cross for their continued support to communities affected by the conflict.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, had earlier reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to providing the security required for the safe movement of humanitarian personnel, relief materials and critical supplies across the North East.
Shaibu emphasised that safe humanitarian access remained essential to civilian protection, stabilisation and the safe and dignified return of displaced persons. He also called for stronger operational coordination, effective convoy escorts and innovative force-protection measures.
In her remarks, Mucheche highlighted the importance of military-humanitarian cooperation in ensuring the safe delivery of assistance to affected communities.
She called for enhanced security patrols along major supply routes and raised concerns over the threat posed by unexploded ordnance, while emphasising the need to protect communities where internally displaced persons had been relocated.
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In his closing remarks, the Deputy Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Air Vice Marshal OF Akinboyewa, thanked participants for their frank and constructive contributions.
He said improved humanitarian access, freedom of movement along supply routes, and the protection of farmers, civilians and returning displaced persons were critical to enabling affected communities to return home, rebuild their lives and pursue their livelihoods safely.
Akinboyewa noted that sustained military operations continued to degrade the capabilities of JAS and ISWAP, thereby creating greater security space for humanitarian assistance, stabilisation and the restoration of normal life.
He reaffirmed Operation HADIN KAI’s commitment to securing critical routes and population centres, protecting civilian livelihoods, strengthening oversight and discipline, and maintaining effective coordination with humanitarian partners.
He assured participants that the concerns and recommendations raised during the roundtable would be carefully considered and followed through, stressing that the ultimate objective was to move affected communities from emergency assistance towards recovery, resilience and sustainable development.
The engagement underscored the shared commitment of Operation HADIN KAI, UN OCHA and other humanitarian stakeholders to restoring stability, dignity and normalcy across Nigeria’s North East.
