FEC approves unified system to tackle poverty

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a national framework to unify humanitarian assistance, social protection and poverty reduction programmes in a bid to address duplication and gaps in support for vulnerable Nigerians.

The initiative, known as the One Humanitarian One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), is designed to improve coordination among government agencies, development partners and humanitarian organisations while linking emergency relief to long-term economic recovery.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, presented the memorandum, which was approved by the council on Wednesday.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry said the framework would address longstanding challenges caused by humanitarian and poverty reduction programmes operating independently, often resulting in duplicated interventions and inadequate coverage of vulnerable households.

Under the system, families displaced by conflict and other emergencies would receive immediate assistance, including food, shelter and healthcare, while also being connected to social protection, education, skills acquisition and livelihood opportunities.

The approach is intended to help vulnerable households transition from emergency relief to recovery, resilience and economic independence.

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“For too long, humanitarian assistance, social protection and poverty reduction have operated as separate interventions. OHOPRS brings them together, so that vulnerable Nigerians are not simply assisted during emergencies but supported along a structured pathway towards recovery, resilience and economic independence,” Doro said.

The ministry described the framework as a key component of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

Doro said the council’s approval had formally incorporated OHOPRS into the Federal Government’s policy framework, adding that its success would depend on how effectively interventions work together to improve people’s lives.

The framework was developed with technical input from development partners and other stakeholders during a workshop at the United Nations House in Abuja in March 2026.

It was unveiled on August 26, 2026, by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and Doro at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.

Following the approval, the ministry said it would collaborate with government institutions, state and local authorities, development partners and other stakeholders to implement the framework.

The system is expected to establish a coordinated approach to identifying vulnerable households, delivering assistance and connecting beneficiaries to sustainable poverty reduction opportunities.