By Julius Peter
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with international partners in addressing humanitarian challenges and reducing poverty, with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, expressing Nigeria’s appreciation for continued international support to vulnerable populations across the country.
Dr. Doro made the statement on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, when the Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria, His Excellency Roberto Mengoni, accompanied by the Counsellor, Iacopo Foti, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister at his office.
The meeting focused on strengthening humanitarian cooperation between Nigeria and Italy, particularly in supporting vulnerable and displaced persons and advancing efforts aimed at helping affected populations overcome poverty and rebuild their lives.
The Minister said Nigeria attaches great importance to the assistance and partnerships provided by its international development and humanitarian partners, stressing that such support remains vital to ongoing government efforts to improve the living conditions of vulnerable Nigerians.
“We value every support from our international partners,” Dr. Doro said, noting that Nigeria appreciates the willingness of the Italian Government to support vulnerable people in the country.
He said the proposed intervention by Italy would contribute to the Federal Government’s broader efforts to provide assistance and sustainable solutions for vulnerable and displaced populations.
The Minister urged the Government of Italy to work closely with the Nigerian Government in accordance with established humanitarian principles, emphasizing the importance of coordination, transparency and effective implementation in humanitarian interventions.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction would work closely with relevant agencies under its purview to ensure that the proposed support from the Italian Government is implemented effectively and reaches the intended beneficiaries.
He specifically cited the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) as one of the agencies that would be involved in facilitating the implementation of the humanitarian support.
Dr. Doro assured the Italian delegation of the Ministry’s readiness to provide the necessary institutional cooperation to make the partnership seamless and impactful.
He stressed that effective collaboration between government institutions and international partners was essential to ensuring that humanitarian assistance translated into tangible improvements in the lives of vulnerable people.
Earlier, Ambassador Roberto Mengoni said the Government of Italy was prepared to work with the Nigerian Government, through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, to support vulnerable and displaced persons in Nigeria.
The Ambassador explained that his visit was aimed at discussing with the Minister and working out the appropriate modalities for the proposed collaboration.
He expressed Italy’s interest in strengthening its humanitarian partnership with Nigeria and supporting efforts to address the needs of people affected by displacement and other humanitarian challenges.
The proposed collaboration is expected to provide an avenue for both countries to coordinate their efforts and ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered in a manner that responds effectively to the needs of affected communities.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, welcomed the Italian delegation and expressed the Ministry’s readiness to partner with the Government of Italy.
Mr. Olusanya assured the visitors that the Ministry remained committed to building partnerships capable of contributing to sustainable development and improving the welfare of vulnerable populations.
He emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation between Nigeria and its international partners in addressing humanitarian needs while promoting long-term solutions that can enable vulnerable populations to become more resilient and self-reliant.
The meeting underscores the Federal Government’s efforts to deepen international cooperation in humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, particularly at a time when coordinated interventions remain critical to supporting displaced persons and other vulnerable groups.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working with development and humanitarian partners to ensure that assistance is effectively coordinated, transparently implemented and aligned with Nigeria’s humanitarian priorities and national development objectives.
In a statement sign by Janet McDickson Noah Director, Information and Public Relations Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction
