The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to broaden the national social register and include the families of wounded and deceased soldiers in its poverty alleviation programs.
Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, revealed this during a meeting with Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, in Abuja.
Edu emphasized the importance of supporting military families and stated, “We want to expand our social register to accommodate military personnel who have been wounded or impacted by war, including soldiers who have left their families behind. We need this data from the military so that we can include them in the social register.”
The minister’s visit to the defense headquarters aimed to seek the Nigerian military’s cooperation in addressing humanitarian crises nationwide. She emphasized that alleviating humanitarian crises and poverty was a top priority for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“Our goal is to discuss humanitarian crises across the nation and the need to collaborate with the military to prevent more individuals from falling into the humanitarian bracket. We also aim to effectively reach those affected by humanitarian crises wherever they are, with the military’s support,” Edu explained.
In response, Gen. Musa assured the minister of the Nigerian military’s commitment to supporting her in achieving the ministry’s mandate. He acknowledged the direct link between military operations and humanitarian aid, highlighting that successful organizations directly benefit military efforts.
Gen. Musa expressed gratitude to the humanitarian ministry for considering the military community’s needs and expressed optimism that the collaboration would yield positive results. The engagement aimed to establish a strong alliance between humanitarian efforts and the military to swiftly address the growing crisis and provide immediate assistance to those affected.
