Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday restated the firm resolve of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address humanitarian situations across the country.
Shettima said this when he received a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Nigeria led by Ms Doris El Doueihy, to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He assured that the administration would continue to engage critical stakeholders, including development partners, to address grey areas in humanitarian responses across the country.
Shettima also said that the federal government would continue to nurture existing relationships with key stakeholders like the ICRC.
“It is only when we continue to engage with organisations like the Red Cross that we can address some of the grey areas in our humanitarian responses across the country,” he said.
He commended the ICRC for its professionalism and commitment to promoting a peaceful and just society, particularly in areas affected by armed conflict and related vices.
Shettima welcomed a proposal for the establishment of a national mechanism for humanitarian response, particularly in managing the plight of victims of armed conflict.
He said that the federal government was willing to collaborate with the ICRC to establish and operationalise the framework for Nigeria.
Shettima said that Nigeria’s security forces, which he described as one of the “most professional in the world,” would continue to operate in tandem with international guidelines and standards.
Earlier, 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 model for emulation across Africa and beyond.
She said the visit to the presidency was in acknowledgement and affirmation of the organisation’s healthy diplomatic relations with Nigeria.
According to her, the relationship has blossomed over the years of its operations in parts of the country.
El Doueihy said the ICRC was proud to associate with Nigeria as a leader on the continent and as a partner in advancing humanitarian support across conflict zones.
