On Wednesday, the Federal Government emphasized that addressing poverty in Nigeria could significantly reduce the nation’s insecurity woes by more than 50 percent.
Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, shared this insight in Abuja while seeking assistance from the Nigerian Air Force to distribute relief materials to remote areas.
During her courtesy visit to Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff, at the Nigerian Air Force headquarters, Edu pointed out that poverty serves as a catalyst for insecurity, leading to humanitarian crises. She stressed that winning the battle against poverty would equate to a 50 percent reduction in insecurity.
Edu expressed the critical role of the Nigerian Air Force in reaching underserved areas with humanitarian aid.
Her requests included assistance in transporting relief workers and materials to remote regions, as well as the evacuation of Nigerians from areas under threat, both domestically and abroad.
Edu also pledged to include the families of deceased servicemen in her ministry’s poverty alleviation program and requested the deployment of air force personnel as liaison officers.
In response, Air Marshall Abubakar pledged the Nigerian Air Force’s cooperation and partnership in addressing the country’s pressing humanitarian challenges.
He recognized the multifaceted nature of these challenges, stemming from conflicts, natural disasters, and displacement, and stressed the importance of a coordinated approach involving various agencies and departments to provide support and solutions effectively.
