President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new Disaster Relief Fund aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s response to humanitarian crises.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima made this known on Thursday during the launch of the Humanitarian Supply Chain Management – Partnership for Localisation Project, which took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Vice-President was represented by Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President).
According to Shettima, the new fund will provide immediate assistance to disaster victims across Nigeria, complementing the broader localisation framework.
“Inaction is simply not an option, and the cost of failing to address these crises at their roots will be devastating,” Shettima emphasized. “Localisation is not merely about placing local actors at the centre of humanitarian efforts; it is the key to a more inclusive, resilient future for Nigeria.”
The Vice-President further explained that the initiative is in line with the Nigeria Localisation Framework, which seeks to empower local actors and utilize local resources to tackle the country’s escalating humanitarian challenges. He attributed the worsening situation to climate change and global economic crises.
Earlier, Mohammed Ahmed, Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties, Emergency, and Logistics (Office of The Vice-President), highlighted the need for a collaborative approach to humanitarian assistance.
“There is a need for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. Government must be participatory and inclusive, ensuring that all voices from every segment of society are heard. Everyone is impacted by issues like climate change and conflict,” he stated.
Ahmed also pointed out that the project will help advance Nigeria’s localisation framework, stressing that significant work is required to meet the country’s targets on this front.
Mitsuko Mizushima, Project Director of Fritz Institute, spoke about the focus on local engagement, noting, “This project is designed to give local people a seat at the table.” She highlighted the importance of supply chain management and the role of capacity-building initiatives.
“We are bringing together international and local organisations, along with academia, to develop standardised training in supply chain management,” Mizushima added. “Over the years, more than 25,000 people have completed this training. It’s accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime—and it’s free.”
Dr. Mairo Mandara, Chief Adviser and Coordinator to the Government of Borno State on Sustainable Development, Partnerships, and Humanitarian Support, explained that localisation means responding directly to the needs of the people. She described Borno State’s human-centered approach to humanitarian transition into development.
“Once we remain focused on our transition plans, we cannot go wrong,” she said.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also announced that it has allocated about 27 percent of its funding to Nigerian-led organizations, marking a move towards greater indigenous control of aid operations.
“We have redoubled our commitment to transferring leadership to local people and institutions who are best positioned to lead change within their own countries and communities,” USAID stated.
Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, Managing Director of the Society for Family Health (SFH), underscored the importance of considering both upstream and downstream factors in the conversation on localisation.
“Local laws and manufacturing capacity have a big impact on localisation. Nigeria has strong organisations in place to handle complex supply chain management programmes. We can transform humanitarian aid delivery with the right capacity,” Idogho concluded.
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