The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has raised the alarm about the effectiveness of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.
The APC forum gave the indictment in a statement issued through its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, in Abuja, on Sunday.
The forum said it felt compelled to voice its concerns due to what it termed the inadequate response of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to the humanitarian challenges in Plateau State, stemming from persistent attacks on local communities, as well as various humanitarian crises across the nation.
Zazzaga said during the eight-month period when Plateau State’s ministerial seat was unfilled, the North-Central APC Forum actively advocated for the appointment of a new minister from the state to succeed Lalong.
The Forum expressed disappointment that Yilwatda’s influence has not been realized where it is critically required.
“As individuals connected to the grassroots, we can candidly say that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has not sufficiently tackled the humanitarian issues affecting everyday Nigerians in rural areas.
“Particularly, the indigenous populations in the North-Central face severe humanitarian obstacles. In numerous communities, hundreds have been uprooted due to assaults by marauding gunmen.
“Although security forces are addressing the attackers, those displaced have not received the support that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction should be providing.
“Vulnerable individuals are left to survive on their own without assistance from the government agency designated to support them. This predicament is also evident in other regions, not solely in the North-Central area.
“The influence of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, is yet to be recognized, even in his home state of Plateau.
Read also:
- APC chieftain hails Tinubu’s game-changing policies
- Delta Labour Party Rep quits party, joins APC
- Governor Umo Eno orders appointees to join APC or resign
“Many residents in Plateau are unaware that there is a minister representing them,” the forum stated.
It expressed dissatisfaction with Yilwatda’s handling of the humanitarian situation in Plateau State, where reports indicate that armed groups have seized control of 64 communities, resulting in the displacement of numerous families.
The North-Central APC Forum criticized Yilwatda for not having personally visited the affected communities or the displaced individuals, many of whom are currently seeking shelter in churches.
According to the organization, it was actually the minister of state for humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, who met with displaced individuals in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State in December 2024, following incidents of violence in that region.
“The involvement of the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction is crucial in these impacted regions, yet it is disappointing that he has not taken the initiative to visit.
“This situation is particularly disheartening considering he hails from Plateau State, and the community has high expectations from him due to the significance of his role.
“We are calling on the minister to become more proactive and spearhead the efforts to tackle the humanitarian challenges in Plateau State, and indeed across the entire nation,” the statement emphasized.
The North-Central APC Forum remarked that Yilwatda’s reaction to the humanitarian disaster in Plateau State appears to be influenced by “political” motives.
Yilwatda was the APC’s candidate for the 2023 gubernatorial election in Plateau State, which was ultimately won by Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
