The federal government has temporarily lifted the suspension placed on
two international humanitarian organisations (NGOs) in the Northeast.
The two humanitarian NGOs; Action Against Hunger and Mercy Corps, were
suspended by the “Operation Lafiya Dole” Theatre Command of the Nigerian
Army on September 19 and September 24, respectively, on the allegation
that they were supplying food, fuel and medicine to Boko Haram
insurgents.
However, during a media briefing held Wednesday in
Abuja, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social
Development (MHADMSD), Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, said that government
was concerned about counter terrorism efforts and that measures must be
put in place to support it. She said: “Based on the 7-point agenda
proposed by the UN 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 the
FMHADMSD, these issues will be addressed. “
Among others, they
will be addressed through establishment of a high policy forum on
humanitarian assistance in Northeast by this ministry, vetting of all
humanitarian vendors, clearance of all NGOs, allocation of fuel to
humanitarian actors, 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 Northeast.”