Humanitarian Minister Seeks Collaboration With Interior Ministry On Internal Security, Human Trafficking, and Migration . . . To Set Up an Inter-Ministerial Committee For Actionable Results
3 min read
by Irene Willie
Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu has said that collaboration between her Ministry and the Ministry of Interior in the areas of Internal Security, Human Trafficking, and Migration would go a long way in tackling the root cause of the humanitarian crisis and poverty in the country.
She noted that insecurity is one of the major drivers of humanitarian crises which throw Nigerians into poverty. Vowing that she would do all she could working with her team to end the misery of Nigerians caught up in the vortex of poverty and humanitarian needs.
Speaking Tuesday when she paid a visit to the Ministry of Interior Headquarters, Abuja, Dr. Edu pointed out that there was the need to provide durable solutions to the crises, and for results, there must be inter-ministerial collaborations.
The collaboration between the two Ministries will be key in the following areas; NSCDC to provide internal security to persons of concern across the country, both IDPS refugees and other, while providing security intelligence on how to prevent humanitarian crises and protect persons affected by humanitarian crises. The fire service she said are first responders in every emergency and as such must collaborate with the ministry to know when emergency occurs so they can respond effectively to emergency as part of the team.
One key area of collaboration is with the Nigerian immigration service which needs to work with NAPTIP to end human trafficking for forced labour, child labour and sexual exploitation amongst other issues. Immigration is also expected to collaborate to stem the tides of young Nigerians leaving the country to die in Mediterranean Sea or deserts. While ensuring that migrants and refugees are properly documented.
Interventions under the National social investment targeted at lifting persons out of poverty as well as vocational training will be beneficial to staff and inmates of correctional centers in the country. We will also expand our National social register to accommodate veterans and families of officers who died in active service. We will provide social safety nets for them.
She was optimistic that synergy between the two Ministries would help in addressing some of the challenges.
While commending the Action hardworking Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for bringing his wealth of experience to bear on the Ministry, and achieving landmark results in just 3 weeks.
“We are here for serious business and for us to succeed, the President has said we must team up and there must be inter-sectoral and ministerial collaboration to achieve success.
“My new responsibilities focus on covering a greater population of vulnerable Nigerians, providing them with humanitarian services and alleviating their poverty in line with President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
On social intervention, the Minister said the expansion of the social register will be extended to retired servicemen and widows of paramilitary organizations whose husbands have died in the cause of active service, adding that inmates of the Nigeria Correctional Services will also be captured and benefit from the skill acquisition programs of her Ministry.
Responding, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo commended Dr Edu for the Renewed Hope collaboration she sought from his Ministry. According to the Minister, the interministerial Committee headed by the two permanent secretaries in the two Ministries will work out modalities that will strengthen the focus of the agenda and expected result.
He described as heartwarming and a welcome development, the Humanitarian Minister’s offers to train the inmates of the Correctional services on vocational skills.
He use the opportunity to inform Nigerians that out of the back log of over 200,000 passport deficit, 56,000 has been cleared in just 4 days. And they will do their best to meet the 2 weeks target. He appreciated the Honorable Minister for the visit.
