Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has announced that the Federal
Gvernment has expanded the national social register to include impoverished families of former military personnel, particularly widows of ex-servicemen, among other vulnerable groups.
She made this announcement during a meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja. Dr. Edu emphasized the need for the Nigerian military to collaborate with humanitarian workers to provide essential services to individuals affected by humanitarian crises and to ensure the protection of displaced persons and refugees across the country.
“We also want to expand our social register and social database to accommodate military personnel who have been affected by war, injured, or have lost their lives, leaving their families behind,” Dr. Edu stated. She explained that collecting data from the military would enable these individuals to be included in the social register, making them eligible for poverty alleviation programs aimed at improving the lives of millions of Nigerians. The government’s goal, according to the minister, is to lift Nigerians out of humanitarian crises and poverty.
Dr. Edu also emphasized that President Bola Tinubu is committed to preventing and mitigating humanitarian crises and addressing current challenges appropriately, which necessitates improved security and poverty reduction efforts.
In response, General Musa acknowledged the link between poverty and crime, expressing the military’s belief that the ministry’s success would make their job easier and more effective. He assured the minister of the military’s full support and cooperation in achieving success, including logistical support for outreach efforts. General Musa also highlighted the importance of considering barracks communities in poverty alleviation programs to boost troop morale and ensure that their families are supported during emergencies.
This collaboration aims to address the challenges posed by insecurity, reduce poverty, and provide assistance to vulnerable groups affected by humanitarian crises in Nigeria.
