TheCable

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says the sum of $270 million has been earmarked to support Nigeria’s poverty alleviation and humanitarian response efforts.

NAN reports that Rhoda Iliya, deputy director of information, ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Iliya said Cristian Munduate, UNICEF representative in Nigeria, made the pledge when she visited Betta Edu, the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, in Abuja.

Munduate said the funds will be used to build a national humanitarian situation room or an emergency operation centre for crisis management.

“UNICEF also assured the minister of their commitment to providing technical support towards building capacity of the ministry’s staff to achieve its mandate,” she said.

“We will also support the development of a humanitarian response protocol for Nigeria to guide all humanitarian actors as this will facilitate effective coordination.

“We will support the establishment of a national humanitarian situation room or Humanitarian Emergency Operation Centre (H-EOC) to monitor, mitigate and prevent humanitarian emergencies and build resilience in the system.”

On her part, Edu said the federal government is committed to lifting over 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

“The federal government of President Bola Tinubu is committed to lifting 133 million poor Nigerians out of poverty in a phased approach,” she said.

“Especially the 71 million extremely poor Nigerians who live under one dollar ninety-five cents a day.

“Time is of essence and we need to run at the speed of light to roll out social programs that will bring relief to the poor.

“Nigerians are eagerly waiting for full implementation of the renewed hope agenda and the time for intense action is now.”

The minister added that the government is determined to collaborate with other development partners to achieve its plans.