By CrossRiverWatch Admin
The Federal Government of Nigeria is seeking more support from the organized private sector towards contributing to the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund, which plans to raise $5 billion annually, says the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Dr. Betta Edu.
This is even as some private corporations have begun showing interest in the fund which was approved by the Federal Executive Council on Monday and is aimed at catering to over 150 million Nigerians in the expanded National Social Register in line with its Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Agenda 2023 – 2030 which was endorsed globally at the 78th United Nations General Assembly.
And, a statement issued by Dr. Edu’s spokesperson, Rasheed Olanrewaju says “Multinational organizations and development partners have started showing interest in supporting the trust fund project. Chevron, MTN Foundation, and UNHCR were the latest callers in the Minister’s office.”
The fund is expected to be governed in a way that is devoid of bureaucratic bottlenecks as it will be a flexible form of financing with the Government, private sector, and development partners providing 30 percent each of the estimated $41billion needed while the balance will be gotten from innovative forms of financing.
On Wednesday, the minister engaged the General Manager of Policy Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Esimaje Birkin, and the Director of Government Affairs, Mr. Sam Daibo as a follow-up of engagements with Chevron’s President, Clay Neff in New York on the sidelines of UNGA78.
“The multinational organization has shown commitment (Chevron) on their expected support to Nigeria on humanitarian and poverty alleviation, especially within the Niger Delta region. Both parties agreed to work out the details in the subsequent meetings,” the statement read.
Dr. Edu also “held a strategic meeting with Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo, the Chief Corporate Services Officer ahead of the meeting with the MTN Foundation on their support,” the statement read.
Also, the Regional Head of Office, West and Central Africa of the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR pledged their commitment in the support of the Nigerian government to achieve results.
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