Federal Government, has promised to capture families of Nigerian Air Force (NAF), veterans as well as those who paid the supreme price while on active duty, in the new expanded poverty alleviation programme set to be rolled on in some weeks to come.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, made this promise when she paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar

To ensure that the appropriate NAF beneficiaries are captured under the expanded poverty alleviation programme, the Minister suggested the establishment of a humanitarian desk officer at Headquarters NAF for ease of liaison with her Ministry during the compilation and submission of the list of beneficiaries.

Dr. Edu also said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to reducing the number of Nigerians in dire need of humanitarian assistance irrespective of their location.

The Minister noted that this can only be realizable if her Ministry can have easy access to some of the victims who reside in inaccessible areas.

Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a statement, said, it was given the difficulty experienced in gaining access to these locations that the Minister was at the NAF Headquarters to seek assurance and solicit assistance in the delivery of relief materials to the needy in areas hindered by difficult terrains or insecurity.

She also used the opportunity of the visit to commend the NAF for its assistance to the Ministry and its parastatal in the areas of casualty evacuation, distribution of relief materials and evacuation of stranded Nigerians in conflict areas overseas.

Dr Edu further noted that given the numerous capabilities of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), it remains a key enabler to the successful implementation of the 8-point agenda of President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

The Minister, who was accompanied by senior officials of her ministry, also took time out to lay a wreath at the NAF Memorial arcade.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said the NAF and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation have had a long history of collaboration either directly or through its numerous agencies.

He assured the Minister of NAF’s readiness and willingness to assist her in achieving the mandate of the Ministry and called for effective coordination, which he said is the cornerstone of any successful humanitarian operation

The CAS proposes key areas where both the NAF and the Ministry can strengthen their partnership.

According to him, “Our organizations can partner in the areas of joint training and capacity building as well as optimize disaster response protocols to enable us to act swiftly, minimize duplication of efforts and ensure more efficient allocation of resources”.

He also noted that close collaboration will ensure that aid gets to those in need in a timely and efficient manner.