By Ere-ebi Agedah Imisi
The Federal Government has handed over ten Mobile One-Stop Shop vehicles to participating states to improve access to essential government services for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable Nigerians, with a pledge to extend the initiative nationwide.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, made the pledge in Abuja during the formal launch and handover of the vehicles in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with support from the German Government.
The development was contained in a statement by Janet McDickson Noah, Director of Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Doro explained that the initiative was designed to eliminate barriers preventing vulnerable populations from accessing essential services, noting that government must take services closer to people who cannot easily reach them.
He disclosed that the mobile units would provide birth registration, National Identification Number enrolment, SIM registration, Bank Verification Number registration, bank account opening and enrolment into the National Social Register.
According to him, the intervention aligns with the Ministry’s One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System, which seeks to move Nigerians from palliatives to sustainable pathways through identity documentation, financial inclusion and social protection.
The minister stated that identity documentation remained fundamental to inclusion, stressing that individuals without proper registration were often excluded from government interventions.
He expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Germany for providing the vehicles, describing the support as a demonstration of international solidarity and commitment to improving humanitarian services.
Doro also commended UNHCR for its sustained support to displaced persons and urged beneficiary states to ensure proper maintenance, security and effective deployment of the vehicles to remote communities and vulnerable households.
He expressed optimism that the initiative would eventually cover all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olubunmi Olusanya, described the intervention as a significant step towards improving access to documentation and essential services.
German Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Stefan Rößel, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting humanitarian interventions, while UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Vanessa Pala, emphasised stronger collaboration to ensure vulnerable communities are not excluded from essential services.
