By Golok Nanmwa,Jos
Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Mohammed Doro, has called for the urgent consolidation of Nigeria’s humanitarian and poverty reduction architecture under a unified national framework, stressing that effective coordination, credible data and sub-national ownership are indispensable to delivering measurable impact for vulnerable Nigerians.
Dr. Doro made this call yesterday at a one-day High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Strengthening Sub-National Ownership and Results-Based Financing (RBF) for Humanitarian and Development Interventions in Nigeria, held at the European Union (EU) Embassy Conference Hall, Abuja.
Addressing policymakers, development partners and humanitarian actors, the Minister underscored the central role of states in first-line humanitarian response, particularly in the context of recurring floods, insecurity-induced displacement and deepening socio-economic vulnerabilities. According to him, sub-national leadership is no longer a matter of discretion but a strategic necessity.
“States and Local Government Areas sit closest to the people. They understand the context, the risks and the realities on the ground. Any humanitarian or poverty reduction system that sidelines them will struggle to deliver timely, effective and sustainable outcomes,” he said.
A statement made available to newsmen in Jos reads that Dr. Doro explained that the dialogue was convened to reinforce the operational mandates of State Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs through improved budgeting, strengthened preparedness and emergency response systems, and the full integration of humanitarian planning into state development frameworks.
He added that the forum also sought to build consensus around state-led early warning and early action mechanisms, as well as structured coordination among State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), LGAs and community-based responders.
A major focus of the Minister’s intervention was the application of Results-Based Financing as a tool for improving accountability, mobilising domestic resources and linking public spending to verifiable outcomes in humanitarian assistance and poverty reduction programmes.
Unveiling a key policy direction of the Ministry, Dr. Doro announced plans to institutionalise a “One Humanitarian, One Poverty Reduction System”—a unified national platform designed to harmonise all humanitarian and poverty reduction interventions across government, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector.
He explained that the proposed system would provide real-time data, enhance transparency, eliminate duplication and ensure that financing is tied to measurable results rather than fragmented activities.
Central to this vision, the Minister stressed, is a credible and functional National Social Register (NSR).
“A functional National Social Register is the backbone of any serious humanitarian or social protection system,” Dr. Doro said. “Without reliable, dynamic and regularly updated data on who the poor and vulnerable are, where they live and what shocks they face, we will continue to spend resources without precision and impact.”
He noted that the Ministry’s reforms are aimed at repositioning the National Social Register as a single source of truth for targeting beneficiaries, coordinating interventions and tracking exit pathways from vulnerability to self-reliance.
“In a system driven by evidence, the National Social Register allows us to move from assumptions to facts, from overlapping interventions to complementary action, and from temporary relief to sustainable poverty exits,” he added.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Doro acknowledged that progress in humanitarian response, social protection and poverty reduction would be incremental but achievable through collective resolve and sustained commitment. While debates may persist around the boundaries between humanitarian action and social protection, he maintained that the ultimate measure of success must be tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
He reaffirmed that the dialogue, alongside follow-up engagements scheduled for February and the forthcoming National Council on Humanitarian Affairs, is intended to ensure that states and local governments internalise and operationalise national policies, with particular emphasis on livelihood creation, productive interventions and clearly defined exit outcomes.
Also speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, H.E. Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, highlighted the constitutional and developmental imperatives for cooperation across all tiers of government. He noted that humanitarian action, social protection and poverty reduction are embedded in Nigeria’s Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.
According to him, ongoing macroeconomic reforms and improved fiscal inflows to states and LGAs have created new opportunities for increased investment in humanitarian and social sectors, in alignment with the National Development Plan and the Renewed Hope Development Agenda.
Contributing during a vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, commended participants for their robust engagement and urged states to leverage upcoming platforms, including the National Council on Humanitarian Affairs scheduled for January 2026, to deepen collaboration, share best practices and mobilise additional resources in response to Nigeria’s growing humanitarian needs.
The EU Head of State, Human Development, Ms. Leila Ben Amor Mathieu, reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s humanitarian and development priorities, particularly initiatives that strengthen local ownership, accountability and sustainable financing models.
Panel sessions at the dialogue featured practical insights on state-led durable solutions and poverty reduction initiatives, cascading the National Social Protection Framework to sub-national levels, and applying results-based approaches to poverty reduction.
The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening sub-national leadership, improving preparedness and emergency response systems, and advancing results-based financing frameworks to ensure that humanitarian and development interventions deliver measurable and lasting impact for Nigerians.
The event was supported by development partners and attracted participants from federal and state governments, local government authorities, civil society organisations, donor agencies, technical experts and the wider humanitarian community.