Jamie Christoff, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, made this known when he visited the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Beta Edu in Abuja, a statement by the minister’s media aide, Rasheed Zubair said.
Christoff, explained that Canadian government had committed $150 million as part of its assistance tto Nigeria for various programmes.
According to him, a small portion has been earmarked for humanitarian responses, adding that some of the general funds will be spent in Nigeria to focus on vulnerable women and young girls across the country.
The envoy also applauded the establishment of the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund, by President Bola Tinubu administration, saying it will aid coordination with the government in the driver’s seat.
He said: “I am here with my team to register our support to the mandate of the President in his efforts to alleviate poverty and reduce humanitarian crises in Nigeria through your ministry.”
Responding, Edu assured Christoff of a mutual working relationship. She also told the envoy of President Tinubu’s aim to end multi-dimensional poverty and humanitarian crises in Nigeria by 2030, in line with the SDG target.
She promised that the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund will be used to address emergency humanitarian responses and issues of poverty alleviation in Nigeria, and promised that the implementation will be transparent.