FG TO CREATE HUMANITARIAN AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION TRUST FUND, SEEKS PARTNERSHIP WITH WORLD BANK. -Betta Edu

Min. Of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu with World Banks's Country Director, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri. 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's government has commenced plans to create Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund (HPATF) to tackle increasing poverty index in the country, and deliver on the administration's target of lifting over fifteen million households out of poverty.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Dr. Betta Edu disclosed this today during a meeting with the World bank's Country Director, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri at Abuja. While expressing gratitude to the World Bank for it's continuous partnership with the Nigerian government in the areas of education, health, agriculture, private sector development and social services, the Honourable Minister expressed the Federal Government's readiness in hosting the proposed Humanitarian Dialogue culminating in the creation of Renewed Hope Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund. She noted that the Trust Fund would be funded through budget allocation, development partners, international communities and contributions from the private sector.

Also speaking on the planned expansion of the National Social Register (NSR), Dr. Betta Edu sought the World Bank's support in the verification and expansion of the register by offering technical assistance towards achieving the president's target.

Responding, the Country Director of the World Bank, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, assured the minister of the World Bank's commitment to providing all the required supports and partnership with the refocused ministry. He also hinted that the proposed Social Safety Nets Project fund of $800M will soon be disbursed.

According to Mr. Shubham, "The proposed disbursement of $800M for the Social Safety Nets Project will commence soonest. We will support the verification and scaling up of the National Social Register, provide technical support in the preparation of the Ministry to attend UNGA and give specialized backing for the establishment of the Trust Fund."