Edu seeks Air Force’s support to deliver aid in difficult terrains

To reach difficult terrains with much-needed aid, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, has sought support of the Nigerian Air Force to discharge its duties creditably.

She made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, in Abuja.

The minister restated the pivotal role of her ministry in checking poverty through delivery of critical interventions to all nooks and crannies of the country.

Edu said: “I’m sure you’re quite aware that we have a good number of persons who are either internally displaced or refugees, who need humanitarian assistance, and some of whom are in areas where it’s difficult to access them through road due to insecurity. We will be seeking your support to see that we can get through to them to deliver humanitarian services, including palliative.

“We’re counting on you for support in terms of intelligence, we’re counting on you for support in terms of security, we’re counting on you for support within your mandate to see that our job is made easier, better and success is achieved.”

She noted that poverty is a one of the drivers of insecurity, which eventually leads to humanitarian crisis, adding: “When we win the war against poverty, we would have won the war against insecurity by over 50 per cent; please, fly us to those hard-to-reach areas.”

Responding, the CAS assured the minister of the force’s cooperation.

“Your presence here underscores our shared commitment to the well-being of our fellow citizens during their most trying times. The challenges that confront us in the humanitarian sphere are multifaceted,” he said.