*Seeks military collaboration to end humanitarian crises

Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has stated that the federal government has expanded the national social register to include poor families of ex-military men, particularly their widows, among others.

She made this known at a meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS), General Christopher Musa, at the Defence Headquarters, where she paid a courtesy call on Monday, in Abuja.

Dr. Edu said that there is a need for the Nigerian military to support humanitarian workers to provide services to persons affected by humanitarian crises wherever they are and also protect displaced persons and refugees across the country.

“We also want to expand our social register and social database to accommodate military persons that are either affected by war and injured or even killed, leaving their families behind.

“We need these data from the military so as to capture them under the social register and 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.

The minister adds that President Bola Tinubu is committed to preventing and mitigating any humanitarian crises while responding to present issues appropriately, thus the need to improve security and reduce poverty.

According to her, insecurity increases humanitarian crises and poverty, and this calls for collaboration between her ministry and the military to prevent, mitigate, and reintegrate those affected back into the society.

Responding, General Musa said there is always a link between poverty and crime, and the military believes that once the ministry succeeds, it makes their 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 troops’ morale will be high knowing that in case of any emergency, their families will also be considered in the poverty alleviation programs. I can assure you we will give you all the support and work together to achieve success, ” General Musa stated in a communique signed by the Special Adviser to the minister on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Zubair.