Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday restated the firm resolve of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address humanitarian situations across the country.
Shettima made the remark when he received a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Nigeria, led by Ms. Doris El Doueihy, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He assured the delegation that the administration would continue to engage critical stakeholders, including development partners, to address grey areas in humanitarian responses nationwide. Shettima added that the federal government would sustain its strong relationship with key partners like the ICRC.
“It is only when we continue to engage with organizations like the Red Cross that we can address some of the grey areas in our humanitarian responses across the country,” he said.
The Vice President commended the ICRC for its professionalism and commitment to promoting a peaceful and just society, especially in areas affected by armed conflict.
Shettima welcomed the proposal for the establishment of a national mechanism for humanitarian response, particularly in managing the plight of victims of armed conflict. He expressed the federal government’s readiness to collaborate with the ICRC to establish and operationalize the framework in Nigeria.
He noted that Nigeria’s security forces, which he described as one of the “most professional in the world,” would continue to operate in line with international guidelines and standards.
Earlier, Ms. El Doueihy commended Nigeria for domesticating the Kampala Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa. She described the country as a leader and a model for emulation across Africa and beyond.
She said the visit to the Presidency was to acknowledge and affirm the ICRC’s healthy diplomatic relations with Nigeria, which have grown stronger over the years of its operations in the country.
El Doueihy expressed pride in Nigeria’s leadership on the continent and its partnership in advancing humanitarian support across conflict zones.
