The Federal Government on Tuesday rolled out plans for the implementation of a unified national system tagged: ‘One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS)’, aimed at lifting 50 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next five years.
According to the OHOPRS financial architecture for the 2026 – 2030 period presented in Abuja, the present administration is to raise N16 trillion between 2026 and 2030.
To achieve the feat, the Federal Government is to contribute the sum of N1.5 trillion; Development Partners – N800 billion; Private Sector & Impact Finance – N600 billion, while the sum of N300 billion is expected through Climate & Global Funds, totalling N3.2 trillion on annual basis (with contributions from World Bank, European Union, United Nations, Bilateral Donors and Foundations.
Federal Government is also expected to launch the National Humanitarian and Poverty Reduction Trust Fund, through Innovative and Blended Finance, including: Climate Financing (AA, Adaptation); Social Impact Bonds, Private Sector Investment, Islamic Finance (Zakat, Sukuk, Waqf, and Carbon Credit.
In the bid to ensure effective governance and accountability, the Ministry has put in place a strong oversight system namely: National Steering Committee, Government + Partners Oversight; Independent Audit Systems; Results-Based Financing and Real-Time Digital Transparency, respectively.
Speaking during the official flag-off ceremony of OHOPRS, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro explained that One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System was designed to address multidimensional poverty, with a focus on real-time data, coordinated response, and a people-centred approach.
He said: “We put in a lot of money to curb poverty but the impact is not there. There is a gap that needs to be corrected. Over 63 per cent of Nigerians face multidimensional poverty and there is chronic fragmentation across MDAs, States, and Local Governments.
“It is obvious that Nigeria does not lack interventions; Nigeria lacks systems and that is why the OHOPRS is launched.
“We have been managing poverty, not ending it and it is time for a change. We need a clear national direction, and the President gave a clear instruction.
“President Tinubu’s vision is uncompromising. He wants 50 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030. He wants us to implement real-time digital accountability.
“He wants us to align every stakeholder to a single national system. The instruction was very clear too. So, the OHOPRS is intended to be a new national backbone designed to integrate humanitarian relief, long-term development and social protection. It is intended to align ministries, departments and agencies, state governments and development partners.”
Dr. Doro, while stating the urgency of the initiative, said: “If we do not unify now, we are choosing to perish.”
Speaking earlier, UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria/Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Mohamed Fall, who was represented by Head of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Elsie Attafuah, noted that poverty was no longer a gradual development challenge, but a humanitarian crisis that requires immediate attention.
He said: “With 62 percent of Nigerians living in poverty and 33 million facing acute food insecurity, there is need for a systems change that integrates humanitarian response, social protection, and economic inclusion.
On the newly launched system, he said: “This is not simply an opportunity to spend more, but an opportunity to invest best. It is an opportunity to ensure that resources are targeted with precision, that they address the root causes of poverty and vulnerability, and that they translate into measurable improvement in people’s lives.
“If this effort succeeds, it will not only improve outcomes in the immediate term, it will lay the foundation for a system that can anticipate risk, protect the vulnerable, and create pathways out of poverty that are sustainable over time.”
On his part, Stastitician General for the Federation/CEO of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Prince Adeyemi Adeniran who noted that approximately 63% of Nigerians( equivalent of 133 million people), are multi-dimensionally poor, with deprivation-concentrated housing, sanitation, health, education, and security short, according to NBS 2022 report, averred that: “No single institution can address the complexity of poverty and humanitarian needs alone.”
To this end, he underscored the need for robust collaboration between government, Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations and the private sector to establish a system that is transparent, inclusive and responsive.
While pledging the Bureau’s resolve to play a lead role in achieving the set objectives, Prince Adeniran maintained that “high quality data is crucial for precise targeting and for fostering public trust in the system. NBS is also dedicated to enabling system interoperability. This is the second aspect of our role that I see in this project. Any unified humanitarian and poverty response system must facilitate seamless data exchange across ministries, agencies, and programs that are on course. We collaborate closely with the ministry to promote the adoption of national data standards.”
tribuneonlineng.com
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