Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has expressed her commitment to working directly with the most impoverished individuals and communities, emphasizing that she won’t be confined to her office in Abuja.
Instead, she plans to spend her time in the field, particularly in local government areas across the country.
During her two-day visit to Maiduguri, Borno State, Dr. Edu underscored that the highest levels of poverty are found not in the capital city, Abuja, but rather at the grassroots level in local communities. She emphasized her intention to conduct field operations regularly to connect with the most vulnerable individuals.
Dr. Edu announced plans to establish humanitarian hubs in all of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, aimed at implementing various poverty-alleviation projects. These initiatives will include an expanded and scaled-up social safety net program targeting at least 15 million households in Nigeria. She clarified that these funds are not government handouts but are intended to support individuals in starting businesses and getting back on their feet.
Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of accountability for funds disbursed by the government, stating that criteria would be attached to any government assistance, and recipients would be held responsible for how they utilize these funds.
Dr. Edu also expressed her ministry’s commitment to collaborate with the Borno State government to expand the social register to include more beneficiaries. The current social register consists of 15.7 million households and 62 million individuals, but the minister acknowledged that this is insufficient to address the needs of those requiring assistance.
To ensure the effectiveness of the social register, Dr. Edu explained that it would undergo continuous updates and verification to determine the eligibility of beneficiaries based on specific criteria. She assured Nigerians that if this verification process occurs within the next month, the expanded social safety net program will commence promptly.
The overarching goal of the administration, led by President Bola Tinubu, is not only to resettle internally displaced persons and refugees from neighboring countries but also to prevent humanitarian crises. Dr. Edu stressed the need for collaboration with security agencies and communities to build a resilient and sustainable system that goes beyond short-term assistance and focuses on long-term solutions.
In conclusion, Dr. Betta Edu emphasized her commitment to direct fieldwork, establishing humanitarian hubs, and implementing accountable and impactful poverty-alleviation programs across Nigeria.
