From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Government of Norway has provided additional $4.5 million to support Nigeria through the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), to tackle humanitarian crisis in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Taraba States.
FAO Representative in Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Fred Kafeero, who spoke during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the UN body and the Norwegian government in Abuja, noted that the support from Norway has risen to $24 million from the beginning of the crisis.
Kafeero added that the support has reached over 1,19877 conflict affected people at present and still counting.
According to him, since 2017, the Government of Norway through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been contributing to rebuilding the livelihoods of the most vulnerable communities in the Northeast.
For the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), Kafeero noted that FAO, being a key provider of livelihood support in the food security sector, has set a target of reaching two million people.
He added that currently, only 56,000 individuals have been reached.
He said: “Moreover, an analysis of the funding trends reveals that only 3.4 out of 100 units of total funding allocated to the food security sector are directed towards livelihood interventions.
“In this regard, this addendum for a complementary fund for 2023 is deemed more than important, not only because it marks the continuous and fruitful collaboration, and partnership that exists between the Government of Norway and FAO in Nigeria but also because it will contribute to filling the livelihoods funding gap for the 2023 lean season.
“While the funding is contributing towards improving food security in the North East, the gap is still huge in meeting the needs of 3.7 million people who need livelihood assistance.”
Earlier, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria, Knut Eiliv Lein, said the $4.5 million additional funding commitment made by the government is aimed at supporting agriculture and people impacted by the conflict.
“We had a three-year programme with the FAO that was renewed for another three years last year and we increased funding to $4.5 million dollars”, Lein said.
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