Turkey, Nigeria to Partner on Social Protection, Disaster Response
The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hidayet Bayraktar, has expressed his country’s interest to partner with Nigeria’s humanitarian ministry to advance social protection and disaster response in the country.
Bayraktar communicated this on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, in her office in Abuja.
He said that Turkiye was ready to sign agreement with Nigeria on donor development cooperation for poverty eradication.
The diplomat said his country would not want to miss the opportunity to serve humanity.
He said it was important that his country and Nigeria collaborated to manage humanitarian crisis and poverty alleviation in the country.
“As you know, we have a good working relationship with Nigeria and we see Nigeria as the rising star in Africa, we want to have two agreements to be signed early next year.
”One, on the development cooperation area and the next is on the humanitarian disaster area which will also involve the Turkish disaster management authority and NEMA of Nigeria.’’
The Turkish envoy explained that the agreements and the subsequent intervention would go a long way in minimising floods and other disaster administration in the country.
”I think this will tremendously help, especially in the areas of disaster management as well as in the field of the development corporation.
”Because, we would have the kind of sustainable development projects that we can help Nigeria in the areas of humanitarian and emergency response management as well,’’ he said.
In response, Betta Edu, expressed gratitude to the Turkish Government for picking interest to support Nigeria’s efforts eradicate poverty and reduce humanitarian crises in the nation.
Edu told the envoy that her ministry had mapped out strategies towards advancing social protection that would be beneficial to the target group in the country
“We are grateful to the Turkish Ambassador and his team for this partnership; we have spoken very elaborately on the Turkish Development Cooperation.
”This will boost partnership with the ministry to see how we can invest in social protection, support education, promote health and other social protection factors in the country.
“I believe by early January after all the documentations and agreement has been sign with the Turkish Government on Development Cooperation and of course disaster management.
”This will help us in setting up a proper humanitarian and disaster management system in Nigeria, all of these will be brought to the fore from the agreements which we will sign.’’
She expressed optimism that the Turkish desire to partner with Nigeria on social protection would deepen mutual cooperation to both countries. Naira Devaluation Deepens Economic Crisis in Nigeria
“Your willingness to open an office for the Turkish Development Cooperation in Nigeria after the agreements have been signed and from the office they can directly reach out to people.
”Through our ministry, so we are very positive that very early next year in January, we can get all of these signed both in Turkey and back in Nigeria to start implementation as soon as possible.
“This will help us to tackle humanitarian crises, grapple with emergency responses and tackle poverty through the various development cooperation initiatives to reach out to beneficiaries across the nation” she said.
The Turkish ambassador was accompanied to the ministry by the Deputy Chief of Mission, Imdat karakoram.
