The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed its unwavering commitment to supporting Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda by actively contributing to efforts aimed at reducing humanitarian crises and eradicating poverty in Nigeria by 2030.
The UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, conveyed this commitment during a working visit by Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, to his office in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Ambassador Al-Shamsi, who described Nigeria as his second home, affirmed his dedication to Nigeria, representing both the United Arab Emirates and Nigeria. He warmly praised the hospitality of Nigerians, describing them as “the nicest people” he had ever met.
The Ambassador assured the Minister that he would relay Nigeria’s request for support in addressing issues related to hunger, poverty, and humanitarian challenges to the relevant authorities in the UAE. He expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the partnership.
Furthermore, Ambassador Al-Shamsi extended an invitation to the Minister to attend UN Climate Change Cop 28, hosted by the UAE government. He emphasised that this event would unite global leaders committed to addressing climate change issues, which have led to natural disasters and exposed many to humanitarian crises and poverty.
Dr. Betta Edu, in her response, highlighted that her visit to the Ambassador was a follow-up to discussions with the UAE government during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting.
She emphasised that bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and the UAE had led to both countries identifying areas of common comparative advantage.
The minister underscored that climate change was a significant factor contributing to humanitarian crises and poverty in Nigeria. She pointed to floods, the drying up of the Lake Chad basin, and other natural disasters linked to climate change, which had displaced many Nigerians and deprived them of their livelihoods.
“With the floods, drying up of the Lake Chad basin, and other natural disasters associated with climate change, many Nigerians have been displaced and have lost their source of livelihood, resulting in humanitarian crises and poverty”, Edu explained.
Edu assured the Ambassador that she would join the delegation led by President Bola Tinubu to attend Cop 28, the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference.
She elaborated on the adverse effects of climate change in Nigeria, including temperature increases, rainfall variability, droughts, desertification, rising sea levels, erosion, floods, thunderstorms, bushfires, landslides, land degradation, and loss of biodiversity. These factors, she maintained, had led to the multidimensional poverty and humanitarian crises facing the Nigerian population.
The Minister reiterated the President’s commitment to addressing these challenges and urged the UAE to provide support in these critical areas.