The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has committed the sum of ₦205.8n ($270million) to support Nigeria’s poverty alleviation and humanitarian response efforts.

The deputy director of information at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Rhoda Iliya disclosed this in a statement.

According to the statement, it was revealed that the funds will be used to build a national humanitarian situation room or an emergency operation center for crisis management.

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.

The statement read in part: “UNICEF also assured the minister of their commitment to provide technical support towards building capacity of the ministry’s staff to achieve its mandate.

“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.”

The statement also revealed that the minister in her response informed the UNICEF delegation of the federal government’s determination to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

It quoted the minister as saying: “The Federal Government of President Bola Tinubu, is committed to lifting 133 Million poor Nigerians out of poverty in a phased approach.

 ”Especially, the 71 Million extremely poor Nigerians who leave under one dollar ninety-five cents a day.

The statement said Edu also charged UNICEF to, as a matter of urgency, draw up their plan of action towards supporting the federal government efforts on poverty alleviation.

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

”Nigerians are eagerly waiting for full implementation of the renewed hope agenda and the time for intense action is now” the statement indicated,” she said.

The statement said the minister assured UNICEF and other development partners of the government’s determination to continue the engagement to achieve the target of lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

“The minister maintained that transparency and accountability will remain a top priority under her Stewardship in the ministry,” the statement added.

Source: NAN