The Federal Government has deployed 10 mobile service vehicles to 10 states to bring essential identity registration, financial inclusion and social protection services closer to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable Nigerians.
The initiative, supported by the German government in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is designed to address the difficulties faced by displaced persons and underserved communities in accessing basic government services.
Bernard Doro, minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, disclosed this on Wednesday during the launch and formal handover of the vehicles at the United Nations House in Abuja.
Doro said the mobile one-stop shops would provide services including birth registration, National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment, SIM registration, Bank Verification Number (BVN), bank account opening and registration on the National Social Register.
He said the intervention was aimed at removing geographical and administrative barriers that often prevent vulnerable Nigerians from benefiting from government programmes, particularly those who have been displaced by conflict or other circumstances.
According to him, access to identity documentation remains a major requirement for economic participation and social inclusion, adding that people without recognised identification are frequently excluded from government interventions and other essential services.
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The minister said the initiative was consistent with the ministry’s One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System, which seeks to move vulnerable Nigerians beyond immediate relief through improved access to financial services, identity documentation and social protection opportunities.
He described the German government’s support as an important contribution to Nigeria’s humanitarian response, expressing appreciation to the German government and people for providing the vehicles.
Doro also commended UNHCR for its continued support for displaced populations in the country, urging the beneficiary states to ensure that the vehicles were properly maintained and consistently deployed to remote settlements and communities with large populations of vulnerable people.
He expressed optimism that the programme would eventually be extended to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), beyond the initial 10 beneficiary states.
Earlier, Olubunmi Olusanya, permanent secretary of the ministry, said the handover represented a significant step towards addressing the difficulties displaced persons encounter in obtaining civil documentation and accessing essential public services.
He urged the participating states to ensure effective deployment, maintenance and security of the vehicles to guarantee that the intervention achieves its intended objectives.
Stefan Rößel, German ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s humanitarian interventions and initiatives aimed at improving access to essential services for vulnerable populations.
Similarly, Vanessa Pala, interim United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration between the Federal Government, UN agencies and development partners in ensuring that displaced persons are not excluded from essential services.
Pala said coordinated service delivery was critical to improving access to documentation, financial inclusion and social protection among vulnerable communities.
At the ceremony, Rößel formally presented the vehicle keys to Doro, who subsequently handed them over to the participating states through Helen Isamoh, dean of the Forum of Commissioners of Humanitarian Affairs of the 36 states and the FCT, and Akwa Ibom State commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs.
Isamoh commended the Federal Government, UNHCR and the German government for the intervention, describing it as a significant boost to humanitarian service delivery at the state level.
She expressed hope that the programme would be expanded to cover all states and the FCT to enable more displaced persons and vulnerable communities to benefit.
The ceremony was attended by Arjun Jain, UNHCR representative in Nigeria, commissioners of humanitarian affairs from participating states, representatives of government ministries and agencies, heads of UN agencies and development partners.
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