The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has called for increased funding and strategic partnerships to accelerate efforts aimed at lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
The Minister, Bernard M. Doro, made the appeal on Friday, while receiving a delegation from the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) during a courtesy visit to his office.
Doro stressed the ministry’s commitment to helping lift up to 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2029, identifying inadequate financing as a major obstacle to achieving the ambitious target.
He urged the NESG to undertake independent costing and analytical studies to support the expansion of social protection programmes, noting that credible projections from reputable institutions would strengthen the case for increased funding and policy support.
The minister also outlined the ministry’s flagship reform initiative, the One Humanitarian One Poverty Reduction System (OHOPRS), designed to address fragmentation and duplication in humanitarian and social protection interventions across the country.
According to him, the programme is built on five key pillars, including improved governance and coordination, unified national registers for beneficiaries, a centralised data system powered by analytics, structured poverty exit pathways, and a strengthened financing and monitoring framework.
Doro noted that although Nigeria receives considerable humanitarian and development funding, poor coordination has limited its overall impact.
He expressed optimism that the new system would enhance efficiency, transparency, and measurable outcomes, while opening doors for collaboration with NESG and other partners.
Earlier, NESG leader, Seun Ojo reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting inclusive economic growth through evidence-based policymaking.
She explained that the group operates through a four-pillar engagement model as a dialogue partner, connector, accountability partner, and technical adviser.
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Also speaking, the Head of Research and Development at the NESG, Joseph Ogebe, highlighted recent macroeconomic improvements, including gains in GDP growth, rising foreign reserves, and reduced fiscal deficits.
Ogebe described the period between 2026 and 2029 as Nigeria’s “consolidation phase,” urging the government to intensify efforts in tackling inflation and advancing structural reforms in key sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing to boost job creation.
He commended the ministry’s role in translating macroeconomic gains into improved living conditions through expanded social protection systems, while also calling for stronger collaboration between NESG and the ministry.
