The minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, has called on Nigeria to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation to address the country’s growing humanitarian needs amid declining global humanitarian funding and support.
Speaking with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, the Minister, while reflecting on this year’s World Humanitarian Day theme, “Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities,” stressed the need for stronger local participation and ownership in addressing Nigeria’s humanitarian challenges.
“With the changing policy in the United States; the United States has been one of the major contributors to humanitarian causes, and because of policy changes, that is impacting Nigeria. But again, Nigeria has been identified as one of the eight countries that need humanitarian reset. By this, it means that Nigeria needs to take leadership as a country of humanitarian intervention within its jurisdiction, and to look after its people itself. That is why recently I held a transition workshop to try and refocus our attention on national leadership, and on how we can make sure we improve our domestic resource mobilization so that we are able to meet the needs of our people,” he said.
Continuing, Minister Doro said: “The theme, ‘Strengthening Global Solidarity,’ is important because at this moment, while our humanitarian needs are increasing globally, unfortunately, the purse is shrinking. Contributions to humanitarian causes globally are shrinking, so it’s important for us to encourage that solidarity so that we are able to meet the needs and mitigate crises globally, and in particular, in Nigeria.
“Encouraging local participation and local ownership is key because crises happen within the context of a locality. When we strengthen local capacity, we ensure that we have people who are able to deliver at the point of need,” he stressed.
On the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs), Doro said the government, through the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, is working with security agencies to facilitate the safe and consensual resettlement of displaced persons when conditions permit.
“Through the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, we are working hard, alongside security organizations, to ensure that when conditions are right, we resettle the people,” he assured.
He added that the government’s resettlement plans are focused on helping IDPs return to their communities and regain independent livelihoods, stressing that the process must prioritise safety, consultation and sustainable solutions.
“Whatever we do involves that pathway, so resettling IDPs is a topmost priority. That’s the only way that we can get people back to living their lives as normal. However, you can’t do that as a quick fix. You need to make sure that you’re respecting the principles of resettlement, working with the people, and resettling them to a safe environment.”
Looking ahead to the 2026 lean season, Minister Doro said the ministry is monitoring the situation and mobilising resources to respond to emerging humanitarian needs, noting that projections are not set in stone. He also disclosed plans to launch an emergency response programme targeting about seven million people with cash transfers to help mitigate the impact of the current situation.
“We are monitoring the situation. As I always say, these things are projections, so they are not set in stone. When you make projections, you’re saying that all conditions being equal, this is likely going to be the case. So we are monitoring the situation. We are working hard to mobilize resources so that we meet the humanitarian needs of our people.
“Hopefully, within the next week or so, we should be launching a program that seeks to provide emergency response to our nation, targeting about seven million people with cash transfers to help mitigate the current situation. We’re working very hard and assessing the situation. Where our people need response, we will deploy appropriate responses so that we can help our people,” he assured.
Speaking on the National Social Register and the reform of conditional cash transfers, Minister Doro said the ministry is strengthening the register by validating beneficiaries’ details with National Identification Numbers (NIN) to ensure that assistance reaches the truly vulnerable. He added that cash transfers are digitally disbursed to allow end-to-end tracking, promote transparency and improve accountability.
“At the moment, we have close to 20 million households in that register. As I’ve said in several of my outings, we are working on it, strengthening that register, and validating the names in that register with National Identification Numbers (NIN).
“We ensure that when we do cash transfers, they are done using the National Social Register, which is a rigorous process to ensure that an individual gets into that register. The register serves as a targeting tool, so whatever cash transfers we do, we don’t just pick people off the street; they have to be part of that rigorous process.
“We use criteria to identify those in the register, put them on the benefit list, and from the benefit list, disbursements are done. These disbursements are done digitally to ensure end-to-end tracking of the system to encourage transparency. That is my watchword, and that is what I’ve continued to do. Is the register perfect? No. But that is why we are working on a daily basis to ensure that we improve it and make it quite accountable and transparent,” he said.
Commenting on the 12-metric-tonne rice donation by Thailand to the World Food Programme (WFP), valued at about $22,000, Doro said the contribution should not be seen as a sign of desperation, stressing that “every little counts” in addressing Nigeria’s humanitarian needs.
“It doesn’t necessarily speak of desperation. Every little counts. We have needs, and we are mobilizing resources. If every Nigerian, for example, was to offer $20,000 USD for us to help mitigate our humanitarian needs, and everybody contributes in that way, look at the scale.
“When Thailand offered their support, we collected it not because the situation is so desperate that you’re beginning to look out for those smaller supports, but because every little counts. Whatever anybody gives me, even if it is $1, to help mitigate humanitarian needs in our country, I’ll take it and use it for that purpose,” he maintained.
Highlighting efforts to tackle food insecurity, the minister said the government is adopting a multisectoral approach under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with various ministries and agencies implementing programmes to meet the country’s food and nutrition needs. He cited the National Community Food Bank Programme, launched across geopolitical zones to support pregnant women and children with nutrition assistance.
“The issue of food insecurity in our country is being approached by the government through the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President in a multisectoral way. For example, yesterday in Shagamu, Ogun State, we were with the First Lady flagging off a community food bank program, which is her initiative under the National Community Food Bank Program. She has been launching this across different geopolitical zones of our country to help pregnant mothers with nutrition, supporting the child right from pregnancy.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is working on things, the Bank of Agriculture has programs, the Ministry of Health has programs, and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation also has programs. It is a unified effort under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President to be able to deliver the food requirements of our country. Every stakeholder is working on this so that we can achieve it. Are we there yet? No, not yet, but that is why we are pushing toward it,” he said.
Addressing the impact of insecurity and banditry on humanitarian operations, Doro said security agencies are working to improve the situation, although challenges remain. He noted that despite risks on the frontline, humanitarian workers and development partners have continued to deliver assistance to communities across the country, stressing the need to protect their rights under international humanitarian law.
“My colleagues in the security sector are doing their best. If we do an honest assessment of the situation, we will see areas of improvement. Has the situation abated completely? No, not yet. But security agencies are doing their best to make sure that the situation is resolved.
“Regarding the connection with humanitarian assistance, yes, there are challenges on the frontline, but we have not had a major situation preventing us from delivering humanitarian assistance to the last mile. We have our workers across the country, as well as development partners across the country, especially in the states you referenced, doing very important work.
“This discussion should probably be redirected to the role and what humanitarian workers are doing currently. The whole idea behind this year’s theme for World Humanitarian Day is to draw attention to the risk that humanitarian workers are passing through on a daily basis. Humanitarian workers are protected by international humanitarian laws, but unfortunately, while doing their work… Our drive as a country, and my drive as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, is to ensure that we don’t leave any Nigerian in need unreached because of a lack of individuals to reach out. That is why drawing attention to the protection of humanitarian workers is very important, and we must respect their rights under international humanitarian laws,” he stressed.
Addressing concerns over the country’s rising poverty levels, Doro said the government is taking steps to tackle poverty through the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that his proposed “One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System” would provide a coordinated approach to addressing the challenges. The minister also disclosed plans to unveil his blueprints, strategic documents and poverty reduction plan at the Presidential Banquet Hall on Tuesday.
“If you have followed my trajectory—and there are digital footprints for this—if you type ‘One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System,’ you will see what the government, through the Renewed Hope Agenda, is doing to directly face the problem head-on. By Tuesday, I will be at the Presidential Banquet Hall to unveil my blueprints, strategic documents, and plan to be able to tackle these things head-on,” he shared.
Favour Odima
Follow us on:
