"Help Us Curtail Humanitarian Crises, Protect Aide Workers" - Betta Edu Begs Military
By Edem ITA
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu has implored the Nigerian military to step up efforts aimed at curtailing the ravaging security menace around the country to checkmate the already worsening humanitarian crisis confronting the federal government.
Dr. Betta Edu appealed when she paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
She disclosed that the visit was meant to explore the possibility of cultivating a robust synergy between her ministry and the military noting that such collaboration was needed to effectively manage the alarming humanitarian challenges inherited by President Bola Tinubu.
According to her; "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to preventing and mitigating any humanitarian crisis while responding to present issues appropriately, thus the need to improve security and reduce poverty."
The Minister stressed that "insecurity increases humanitarian crises and poverty, there is a need for collaboration between our Ministry and the Military to prevent, mitigate, and reintegrate those affected back into the society."
The Minister solicited military support for the safety of aide workers to guarantee delivery of humanitarian assistance to persons affected by natural disasters or crises around the country, while also ensuring protection of disaster victims from neighboring African countries currently taking refuge within Nigerian territory.
She disclosed plans by the Ministry; "To expand our social register and social database to accommodate military persons who are either affected by war and injured or even killed, leaving their families behind.
"We need these data from the military to capture them under the Social Register so they can benefit from poverty alleviation programmes while touching lives in their millions. The President's target is to see that Nigerians are brought out of humanitarian crises and poverty in Nigeria", she said.
Speaking, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa expressed delight over the visit noting that the gesture demonstrate the readiness of the Minister to build effective partnership with key stakeholders to optimize seamless service delivery.
The Defense Boss listed poverty as the root of criminality which has given rise to other vices bedeviling the country and emphasized that; "Once the Ministry succeeds in tackling poverty, the huge burden on the military with regard to battling internal security challenges would have been addressed, to makes our job easier and better."
"We assure the Minister of all the support she needs, wherever they want to go, and whatever the logistics that need to be done, we are going to provide that.
"We are also happy that the Barrack community will also be considered, which is critical. The troupes' morale will be high knowing that in case of any emergency, their families will also be considered in the poverty alleviation programmes. I can assure you we will give you all the support and work together to achieve success."
The visit featured an exchange of souvenirs, inspections and group photographs.
