Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has announced that the federal government has successfully secured an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to establish humanitarian response stations throughout Nigeria. This initiative aims to provide timely assistance to victims of disasters.
Speaking to state house reporters in Dubai after her discussions with Emirati government officials during the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), Edu emphasized that Nigeria sought UAE’s support in addressing humanitarian crises resulting from insurgencies, particularly in the North East, and alleviating endemic poverty in specific regions of the country.
Edu highlighted that the UAE Red Crescent, equivalent to the Red Cross, is prepared to contribute to building a more resilient humanitarian response system across Nigeria. She revealed the extensive discussions held with various stakeholders, including the Minister for Tolerance in the UAE, who is also the president’s brother.
“We have held a lot of interactions at different levels. Of course with the government of the UAE; that’s interacting with the Minister for Tolerance in the country, who happens to be a brother to the president. We spoke extensively about how we can work together to pull millions of managers out of poverty.”
These conversations revolved around collaborative efforts to uplift millions of Nigerians from poverty.
The minister elaborated on interactions with key figures such as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the President of the Islamic Development Bank, focusing on humanitarian response and poverty alleviation programs to garner support for the nation.
Connecting humanitarian crises and poverty to climate change, Edu emphasized that climate-related factors had driven people into insurgencies, contributing to security challenges in Nigeria.
She clarified that her ministry’s role at COP28 was to explore ways to be part of climate change adaptation, secure support for job creation, poverty reduction, and align with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
