North-East Groups Urge Tinubu To Consider Humanitarian Ministerial Slot – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

By Pune Media On Sep 4, 2025

DAMATURU – A group known as the North-East All Progressive Congress Stakeholders’ Forum has called on Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider relocating a ministerial slot to address the region’s pressing humanitarian needs.

This appeal comes after the recent meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum with President Tinubu, where Special Adviser Bwala Daniel highlighted the region’s allocation of key ministries.

The North-East region has been allocated several key ministries, including: Agriculture, Transport, Police Affairs, Health, Foreign Affairs and Livestock Development respectively.

However, the North-East All Progressive Congress Stakeholders’ Forum believes that a ministerial slot focused on humanitarian affairs is crucial to addressing the region’s urgent needs.

Similarly, the Northeast All Progressive Congress Stakeholders Forum Spokesman, Hon. Abubakar Babake, is overwhelmed with the presentation made by the Special Adviser, Bwala Daniel during the North-East Governors’ meeting with the President.

Babake emphasized that the North-East requires urgent humanitarian attention, urging President Tinubu to relocate the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to the region given its dire needs.

Citing the recent 12th Northeast Governors’ Forum meeting led by the Forum Chairman, Governor Babagana Zulum, in Taraba, which highlighted the region’s ongoing struggles with humanitarian and infrastructural challenges despite progress against insurgency, Babake argued that this strategic move would enable a more effective response to the region’s pressing humanitarian needs.

He added that, “the region is disproportionately affected by humanitarian crises, particularly the Boko Haram insurgency, which has resulted in significant loss of life and property worth trillions of Naira. Relocating the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to the region would be a significant step towards addressing the urgent humanitarian needs.”

The outgoing Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe, from North-Central, has been confirmed as APC National Chairman, with the seat shifting from Northwest to North-Central. To rescue the Northeast region, relocating the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to the Northeast would be a right step to address the region’s humanitarian challenges.

He added that “our Northeast Governors deserve our special appreciation for putting Northeast interests ahead of their political differences. Their unity to secure the Northeast and bring more attention and development projects to the zone is commendable.

“As they requested Mr. President to continue oil exploration from the Northeast, we believe this would be a welcomed development for the nation, and we hope President Tinubu will consider their request.

“In conclusion, we reiterate our request to Mr. President to consider relocating the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to the Northeast region and also to consider the request of the Northeast Governors regarding oil exploration. We are confident that these decisions would have a positive impact on the lives of our people and demonstrate the government’s commitment to their welfare and development.”