SA, Piper: The UN is an important partner in Nigeria’s humanitarian effort

The UN is a crucial partner in achieving Nigeria’s humanitarian response, according to Robert Piper, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Solutions to Internal Displacement.

When he accompanied the UN delegation to Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, in her office in Abuja on Monday, Piper made this statement.

The special advisor explained to the minister that his task in Nigeria was to monitor the UN Secretary General’s internal displacement action plans.

According to Piper, the visit was made to reaffirm our commitment to assisting Nigeria in meeting its humanitarian needs.

The UN will work with the federal government to establish a coordinated approach towards long-term solutions to Nigeria’s humanitarian issues, he assured.

“We applaud the position taken by the federal government in favour of a coordinated strategy for addressing humanitarian issues in Nigeria.

“We would partner with you in this regard,” he said. “We believe that this approach is the best way to find long-term solutions to the multifaceted humanitarian challenges facing the country.”

Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, joined the special adviser in saying that only long-lasting solutions could result in swiftly coordinated outcomes.

He praised the minister for her perseverance and dedication to resolving the nation’s poverty and humanitarian challenges.

The minister emphasised in her response that for the intended outcome, all UN humanitarian organisations must collaborate.

She claims that collaborating across purposes will not enable us to achieve our goals.

“We must accept the fact that when humanitarian emergencies arise, the inclination is to provide emergency measures in the vain hope that people will return home soon after.

“The reality on the ground is that millions of people are displaced for long periods of time, some for as long as ten years and others for a lifetime.

I recently returned from Niger, and I’ve been to Borno, and the challenges there are enormous, so there is a need for a coordinated strategy in line with the government’s vision, she said.

Edu emphasised the necessity for development partners to offer internally displaced people (IDPs) a solid and long-lasting housing.

“Development Partners should stop constructing tarpaulins for the IDPs and instead offer them long-lasting options for their resettlement and means of economic survival.”

The minister claimed that the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda was starting to have an effect on the IDPs.

She reassured the UN that the work plan for humanitarian responses from the federal government would trickle down to the states to deliver long-lasting answers.

“This is something that the President will also be talking about at the UNGA.

It’s time to offer long-lasting answers to Nigeria’s humanitarian challenges and poverty, Edu added.