The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has launched social protection programme to deepen its war against poverty in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev David Ugolor said the project is a deliberate effort from Civil Society to support effort of Government in poverty eradication.
“On our part, we commit to complement efforts of Government in this arduous responsibility. It is on this premise that we are launching the project, entitled Enhancing Social Protection Programme in Nigeria (ESPPIN). This is in our belief that government alone cannot surmount the problem of poverty in Nigeria. Complementarity of government and development partners’ efforts is key to poverty eradication in Nigeria,” he said.
Declaring open, the inception meeting of the Enhancing Social Protection Programme in Nigeria (ESPPIN) project in Nigeria being implemented by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) with support from Bread for the World, Germany, Hon. Minister of State, Budget and Planning, Clem Agba said that the ongoing review of the expired Social Protection Policy(2021-2025) will be ready sometime in June 2021.
Prince Agba praised ANEEJ and BfdW for the project to be implemented in five states, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Ekiti States as well as Abuja, added that, the Federal Government has reached out to the 36 State Governments, and other stakeholders for their inputs into the draft policy.
While speaking, Director of National Social Safety-Net Coordinating office (NASSCO), Dr Lorwa Apera,
who was represented by Ms Ruth Adzege said that, ANEEJ’s decision to launch Social Protection Movement in Nigeria now is timely and it shows in clear terms the need for all satkeholders to be committed to the delivery of quality social protection services, especially at the community level.
“We align ourselves with this initiative towards this critical social contract. We also seize this opportunity to recognize ANEEJ for their support to NASSCO in its coordination role for social protection and establishing the building blocks for social protection implementation in Nigeria.”
In his contribution, frontline Environmentalist, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo of Environmental Rights Action, congratulated ANEEJ for its effort in addressing issues of poverty through the ESPPIN project and charged stakeholders to also take interest on issues of energy security and energy transition, which could help solve issues of poverty in the country.
