The Federal Government has lifted the suspension placed on two international humanitarian non-government organisations, Action Against Hunger and Mercy Corps in the North-East.
The NGOs were suspended on September 19 and September 24 respectively, by the ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ Theatre Command of the Nigerian Army, for allegedly supplying food, fuel and medicine to Boko Haram insurgents.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq during a press briefing on Wednesday noted that the development is temporary.
According to her, “Government of Nigeria is concerned about counter-terrorism efforts and all measures must be in place to support the efforts of the government to end this conflict in North-East Nigeria.
“The suspension of the two International Humanitarian Organizations namely Action Against Hunger and Mercy Corps, is temporarily lifted.
The concerns and recommendations of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) will continue to receive attention and scrutiny to address the issues raised and comply.
“Based on the seven-point agenda proposed by the United Nation Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator to strengthen coordination and partnership between the humanitarian community and the government of Nigeria in the North-East, and taking into consideration the planned civil-military coordination workshop in Maiduguri by this ministry, these issues will be addressed.
“Among others, they will be addressed through the establishment of a high policy forum on humanitarian assistance in the North-East by this ministry; vetting of all humanitarian vendors, clearance of all NGOs and allocation of fuel to humanitarian actors.
“Others are submission of monthly reports on humanitarian activities through the FMHADMSD; review of civil-military coordination in Maiduguri and Abuja; development and approval of a cash transfer policy for humanitarian assistance in the North-East.”
(C) Control TV 2019.
