The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with state governments to deliver sustainable humanitarian interventions and expand social protection programmes across Nigeria.

The Minister gave the assurance while receiving separate courtesy visits from the Kaduna State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Comrade Yunana Markus Barde, accompanied by the Chairman of the Kaduna State House of Assembly Committee on Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Umar Auwal Bajimi, and the Niger State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim Inga, who led a delegation comprising the Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), directors and other senior officials of the ministry to the Ministers office in Abuja on Wednesday.

Speaking during the engagements at his office in Abuja, Doro highlighted the Ministry’s ongoing reforms, including the recently launched National Poverty Lab, established to strengthen evidence based policymaking and accelerate poverty reduction efforts nationwide.

He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to implementing the One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS) as a platform for coordinated, sustainable and people centred humanitarian interventions across the country.

Doro also commended the Kaduna State Commissioner for his consistent support and participation in the Ministry’s flagship programmes, particularly the launch of the OHOPRS and other key humanitarian initiatives.

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to sustaining collaboration with Kaduna State and disclosed plans to visit the state to further strengthen the partnership and advance shared humanitarian priorities.

Earlier, Comrade Markus Barde congratulated the Minister on the recent wedding of his daughter and praised the Ministry’s efforts in fostering stronger collaboration with state governments.

He appealed for Federal Government support for the humanitarian councils established across Kaduna State’s local government areas and called for enhanced interventions for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in the state.

Similarly, the Niger State Commissioner, Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim Inga, commended the Minister’s leadership and described the relationship between the Federal Ministry and state humanitarian institutions as stronger and more productive than ever. He noted that Niger State continues to face significant humanitarian challenges requiring sustained interventions and recalled the Minister’s previous interventions in the state, describing them as impactful and beneficial to affected communities.

He appealed for continued Federal Government support to address the state’s humanitarian needs.
Responding, Dr. Doro appreciated both delegations for their visits and reaffirmed the Ministry’s resolve to work closely with state governments to strengthen humanitarian response mechanisms, promote coordinated interventions and improve the well being of vulnerable Nigerians.

He stressed that effective humanitarian action depends on strong partnerships across all levels of government and assured that the Ministry would continue to support states through collaborative, inclusive and sustainable interventions aimed at reducing poverty and improving the lives of vulnerable citizens.