’16 million Nigerians at risk of humanitarian crisis,’ FG tells Gates foundation

The Federal Government has called on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other development partners to support its efforts at rescuing 16 million Nigerians at risk of humanitarian crisis.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, made the call, weekend in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the Foundation on a courtesy call

She said Nigeria has 16 million people facing humanitarian crisis caused by natural and man-made disasters, insecurity and flooding, in addition to refugees and Internally Displaced persons. (IDPs).

The Minister pointed out that partnerships with development partners, donor bodies and the private sector would fast track efforts to get people out of humanitarian crisis and poverty, in line with the federal government’s agenda.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to alleviating poverty in Nigeria in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs), 1,2 and 3 of the 2030 target.

“Our ministry is working assiduously to implement the presidential directive, and we cannot do it alone without partners like you.

“Please link up this mnistry to other strategic partners that could support the country’s fight against poverty in Nigeria,” she urged.

The country director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Jeremie Zoungrana, said the foundation is willing to partner with the ministry and assured that it will use its wide contacts to connect the ministry with strategic partners in specific areas to eradicate poverty in Nigeria, as a statement from the ministry’s Deputy Director of Information, contains.