The Federal Government has unveiled plans to harmonise humanitarian and poverty reduction interventions nationwide through a unified national platform, as the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, called for stronger state and local government ownership of humanitarian responses.
Dr. Doro made the call on Monday, December 15, 2025, 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 Conference Hall in Abuja. The dialogue was organised by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and facilitated by the European Union.
Addressing stakeholders, the Minister stressed that states should bear the primary operational responsibility for first-line humanitarian responses in the face of recurring flooding, insecurity, displacement and rising socio-economic vulnerabilities. He noted that sub-national ownership is critical, as states and local governments possessed the contextual knowledge and proximity needed for timely, effective and sustainable interventions.
Dr. Doro identified key focus areas of the dialogue to include strengthening State Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction through improved budgeting, enhanced preparedness and emergency response systems, and the integration of humanitarian planning into state development frameworks. He also emphasised the need for practical, state-led response mechanisms such as early warning and early action models, improved coordination among State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and community-based responders, as well as clear motivation frameworks for local governments.
A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of the proposed “One Humanitarian, One Poverty Reduction System,” a national platform designed to track and harmonise humanitarian and poverty reduction interventions across government, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector. According to the Minister, the system will enhance transparency, provide real-time data, eliminate duplication and strengthen results-based financing by linking funding to measurable outcomes.
The Minister noted that progress in humanitarian response, social protection and poverty reduction would be incremental but achievable through collective determination and sustained collaboration. He stressed that the ultimate measure of success must be the tangible improvement in the lives of Nigerians.
In his remarks, the Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, underscored the constitutional and developmental need for cooperation across all tiers of government, adding that recent macroeconomic reforms and increased fiscal inflows to states and local governments have created opportunities for greater investment in humanitarian and social sectors.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, urged states to take advantage of upcoming platforms, including the National Council on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction scheduled for January 2026, to deepen collaboration, share best practices and mobilise additional resources.
Also speaking, 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 promote local ownership, accountability and sustainable financing.
The dialogue concluded with a collective commitment by stakeholders to strengthen sub-national leadership, improve preparedness and emergency response systems, and advance results-based financing frameworks to ensure that humanitarian and development interventions deliver measurable and sustainable impact across Nigeria.
