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We’re pleased with OCHA’s humanitarian efforts in Nigeria – Osinbajo
Vice President
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says that Nigeria is pleased with the contributions of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, to humanitarian efforts in the country.
Laolu Akande
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Friday, said the vice president received a delegation from OCHA led by Under Secretary/Emergency Response Coordinator Martin Griffiths at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to Mr. Osinbajo, no matter the challenge or resource limitation, people need to know that their government will always be in a position to support them and take action for them.
“We have challenges; Post-pandemic challenges, resource constraints, but we still have to make provisions for the millions of people who are hoping that the government will be in a position to support them through a dire and challenging period.
“We are extremely pleased with OCHA; your contribution to all humanitarian efforts.
“The experience that OCHA brings to the table is dealing with conflicts and issues, not just humanitarian concerns, but political concerns in delivering humanitarian assistance,” he said.
On the reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons, internally displaced persons, affected by humanitarian crises, particularly in the northeast, Mr. Osinbajo said that the government was seeking to mobilize resources.
“Because when we bring in refugees, someone has to make provisions for them; provide them with adequate living conditions.
“I hope these are areas where we can get some support from OCHA; even if what we can get apart from physical and material support would be the kind of technical assistance that will help us think through the problems and come up with plans and ideas and deliver on the mandate,” he said.
On the need to effectively end the insurgency, he said that the international community had mobilized and dealt with ISIS, adding that Africa and especially the Sahel really needed to have that kind of decisive action.
“I hope that at some point, this will be discussed at the UN; some deliberate or decisive effort to end this,” Osinbajo said.
In his comments, Griffiths assured that OCHA will always be available to provide assistance.
“This year 2022, we have increased the general plan budget by around $1.2 billion, and we are here to support government institutions in Nigeria to help people affected by the humanitarian crisis,” Griffiths said.
Sadiya Farouq
Sadiya Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, and other OCHA officials attended the meeting.
Association of Old People of the Igbobi College
In another novelty, the vice president received a courtesy visit from a delegation from the Association of Old People of the Igbobi College, ICOBA, to which he belongs.
Yomi Badejo-Okunsanya
The delegation led by Yomi Badejo-Okunsanya, (who represented the president of ICOBA), hinted to Mr. Osinbajo about the plans for the school’s 90th anniversary.
Mr. Osinbajo said that the anniversary was an opportunity to accomplish many things, including drawing attention not only to the achievements of the school, but also to the potential to improve public education and education in general in our country.
