… Identifies Obstacles, Solutions to Humanitarian Interventions 

Mohamed Malick Fall is the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria. In this exclusive interview, he speaks on the need for a collective response to humanitarian crises in Nigeria, obstacles to humanitarian interventions, and the work of the United Nations, among others. UN OCHA Nigeria’s Head of Public Information, Ann Weru, and Public Information Officer, Dr. Chike Walter Duru, were there. 

Excerpts:

Types of humanitarian issues in Nigeria

Different types of crises exist in Nigeria; some are linked to conflict and insecurity; there are those that are triggered by insurgency in the north-east, some are linked to intercommunal violence, herders/farmers clashes, abductions, kidnapping, banditry, prevalent in many parts of the country.

In addition, Nigeria has a certain level of climate vulnerability. Sometimes, drought; sometimes, floods; sometimes heat wave, that impact the wellbeing of people and sometimes trigger the movement of people, loss of property or loss of livelihood and they exacerbate the hardship that the people are facing.

How the UN is responding to the challenges

The UN has a two-fold response. One is the humanitarian response, which, to me, is guided by the principle of saving lives and reducing vulnerabilities; helping people, not only to get back on their feet, but also to have hope that they can have a better future. 

The second component is the one that tackles the root causes of these crises. Most of those root causes are linked to deficits of development, lack of basic services, lack of livelihoods, lack of skills for young people and lack of access to employment. Those require much deeper action, which is building, not only on UN humanitarian intervention, but also on development-related activities, which will be looking at short, mid and long-term projects for the development of those people.

Obstacles to humanitarian interventions in Nigeria

We have several of them. 

The biggest one is access, and sometimes, access is hampered by insecurity. There are many parts of the country without free and safe access because of the high level of insecurity that is still prevailing. This is valid for the north-east, where, despite all the efforts to push against the insurgency, you still see attacks like the recent ones in Konduga and Gwoza, which are sad reminders that it is not yet over. You have also insecurity prevailing in many other parts of the country. 

Sometimes, access to the people in need is also difficult.  

Funding gaps are also an issue, because, as you know, the world is overstretched by humanitarian challenges. For instance, we have gone past half of the year, but this year’s Nigerian Humanitarian Response Plan is funded below 50 per cent. We launched in May 2024, a Lean Season Plan, which targeted to address the most urgent needs of people affected by food insecurity and malnutrition, but we are in the peak of the lean season, and we have not even reached 30 per cent of the funding we need. If you look at humanitarian funding year by year, you will see that it is declining. The level of response from the donor community is getting lower because of the competing developments across the world. The wars in Gaza, Sudan, and other regions have completely changed the funding landscape for humanitarian response. 

The challenge of funding

There is a cost of doing nothing. People always look at things from the point of the cost of doing something. Let me take one example. In the Lean Season Plan, we are looking at addressing severe food insecurity and malnutrition. Today, look at the number of children that are malnourished. The survival of hundreds of thousands of severely acutely malnourished children and those at risk depends on urgent interventions.

In the Lean Season Plan, there is a projection of 230,000 children at risk of severe acute malnutrition during the lean season in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, alone. Their survival depends on the steps taken against the challenge.

The cost of inaction is that life is on the line. Children that survive acute malnutrition, from the fragile health conditions they have, may also face growth and development challenges throughout their lives. The cost of inaction is very expensive.

Way forward

I see several solutions around these challenges. 

For funding, more innovative funding solutions are required. We must no longer rely on western countries as traditional donors.

A country like Nigeria is not poor. It is among the three biggest economies in Africa. It is increasingly urgent for the Government to allocate its own resources to the humanitarian response. 

We also need to be more creative and see how we can make our humanitarian operations more efficient and more effective. There are many directions that need to be explored.

International Laws

Wherever you see conflict and war, it means that there are parties that do not believe in dialogue and in peaceful settlement of disputes. 

For instance, the insurgents believe in extreme violence and terrorist actions. This is not peculiar to Nigeria. In the world, there are many wars taking place. Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, and these are coming on top of previous crises. You have Somalia and Syria. The notion that any difference should be settled through arms and through guns amounts to pushing back on the principles of international laws. Many of the parties to conflict do not respect nor respond to the call of international humanitarian law.

How the UN is supporting displaced people and the most vulnerable

Whenever you see a crisis, those that pay the highest prices are the most vulnerable – the women, children, older persons, people living with disabilities, and that is why we prioritise them in our interventions. There are provisions in our interventions that prioritize the protection of children. There are also provisions that specially protect women from grave violations of their rights and from sexual violence. The rights of people living with disabilities are also protected.

For me, the humanitarian space is one of the few spaces where humanity has its expression. It is a place where you see actors daily, risking their lives to go and save lives, reduce vulnerability, protect and help people get back on their feet. It is also a space where you see host communities that are lacking in everything sharing the little, they have with people who are suffering or displaced. It is a place where you see Government and non-state actors getting together, to reduce vulnerability and save the lives of people. The work of humanitarians saving lives etc. has just one name – humanity prevailing. 

Message for stakeholders

What we need to reduce the humanitarian needs in the world is for the people to go back to the principle of humanity. 

If we act on preventing conflict, stopping conflicts, we will take away a huge number of people in humanitarian need. 

At the same time, humanitarian needs are not only triggered by conflict; unfortunately, the way we treat our planet; the way we treat our ecosystems, the way we respond to the climate crisis that we are facing are also important issues. 

We also have increased poverty and deeper inequalities. All of these are among the factors that trigger human suffering.

We need to address conflict, increased poverty, the climate crisis, and inequalities. If world leaders continue to push to address these issues and more, we will see a better world.

Members of the public should support humanitarian action. They should understand that it is not about humanitarian organisations and workers alone. It is about the entire society. The call here is the expression of humanity. It is a call to every human being. It takes mobilization, commitment, awareness for every one of us to be part of that humanity.

Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, a seasoned politician with many years of experience, currently serves as the Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State. In an interview with DAILY POST’s David Eleke, Chief Obi-Okoye expresses dissatisfaction with the 2022 amended Electoral Act, asserting that it failed to address the public’s expectations. He criticizes the conduct of recent off-season elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa, suggesting a regression to old practices. The chairman also provides insights into the upcoming 2025 gubernatorial election in Anambra State and addresses challenges faced by APGA in recent elections.

Regarding the electoral process, Chief Obi-Okoye emphasizes the need for substantial reforms to ensure free and fair elections. He criticizes the 2022 electoral act, highlighting its failure to guarantee transparent accreditation of voters. The chairman expresses disappointment in the lack of effective reforms and points to the recent election results in Imo and Kogi as evidence of a return to past irregularities. He urges the National Assembly to address these issues through specific legislations.

Chief Obi-Okoye reflects on APGA’s performance in the last election, acknowledging a decrease in the number of seats in the House of Assembly. He attributes this decline to internal issues, including poorly conducted primaries and intra-party grievances. However, he expresses confidence in the party’s ability to perform better in the next election, citing ongoing efforts to rebuild and address internal challenges.

Addressing criticisms from former governorship candidates Obiora Okonkwo and Ifeanyi Ubah, Chief Obi-Okoye dismisses their opinions, particularly questioning Okonkwo’s political standing based on past electoral outcomes. He defends Governor Soludo’s performance, emphasizing achievements such as road construction, teacher employment, and youth empowerment.

As the Chairman of APGA in Anambra State for six months, Chief Obi-Okoye discusses the challenges faced and the strategies employed to revitalize the party. He mentions rebuilding trust, addressing intra-party grievances, and implementing discipline as key priorities. He also highlights efforts to involve grassroots supporters and support groups in party activities, emphasizing the party’s supremacy.

Looking ahead to the 2025 gubernatorial election, Chief Obi-Okoye downplays concerns about potential challengers to Governor Soludo, asserting that the governor’s focus should remain on good governance. He believes that the governor’s achievements, including infrastructure development, will resonate with voters during the campaign period.

In summary, Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye’s interview covers his perspectives on electoral reforms, APGA’s performance, internal challenges, and the party’s strategies for the future, including the upcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

In this interview, Professor Ememabasi Bassey, a former Commissioner for Health in Akwa Ibom State and Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, discusses the causes and effects of brain drain, among other issues. Below are some excerpts:

The recent federal government initiative to recruit medical practitioners – will it effectively address the challenges of brain drain?

I express gratitude to the federal government for initiating recruitment into hospitals. However, recruitment alone is insufficient because, while we are bringing in new professionals, the problem lies in retention. Numerous health professionals, including resident doctors and consultants, are leaving the country regularly. The economic factor plays a significant role. The highest-earning medical doctor in Nigeria’s public service makes around $1000, whereas a junior medical professional in the UK earns about $3000 before tax. This economic disparity makes Nigeria a target for other countries to poach our skilled healthcare professionals.

What are the reasons behind this brain drain phenomenon?

Economic factors are paramount, with the meager salaries in Nigeria being a significant deterrent. The highest-earning doctors in the country cannot match the earnings of their counterparts in the UK or the United States. Lack of job satisfaction, inadequate working environments, and insecurity in some regions further contribute to the exodus of healthcare professionals.

How does brain drain impact your hospital?

The brain drain has affected our hospital, albeit not as severely as some teaching hospitals. Many resident doctors, nurses, and consultants have left. The departure of experienced professionals creates challenges in maintaining the quality of healthcare services.

What challenges do you face as the Chief Medical Director of UUTH?

Our challenges include power supply issues, inadequate infrastructure, financial constraints, and the attitude of staff towards patients. Power supply has been a persistent issue, and though we’ve made efforts to address it, challenges persist. Improving infrastructure has been a success, with the completion of abandoned projects and initiation of new ones. However, financial constraints persist, affecting our ability to procure essential supplies and equipment. Staff attitude towards patients is another challenge, and efforts are underway to improve organizational culture through regular training sessions.

How can the government address these issues, especially brain drain?

Addressing brain drain requires comprehensive policies and a conducive working environment. It involves improving pay structures for healthcare professionals, creating opportunities for career development, and enhancing working conditions. Additionally, discussions at the highest levels should focus on reversing brain drain and encouraging skilled professionals to return to Nigeria.

What are your thoughts on the proposed bill compelling medical professionals to serve for an extended period before leaving the country?

While acknowledging both positive and negative aspects, the bill may infringe on fundamental human rights. However, it could be applicable to individuals on scholarships or student loans. Subsidized medical education in government universities should foster patriotism, discouraging professionals from leaving hastily.

What inspired you to become a medical doctor?

Growing up with a mother who was a nurse and having family friends who were medical doctors, the path to becoming a medical doctor seemed inevitable. Despite excelling in arts, the passion for medicine prevailed, and it became the only career choice.

On the issue of health professionals engaging in private practice at the expense of government facilities:

Engaging in private practice at the expense of government facilities goes against ethical standards. While recognizing the financial challenges faced by civil servants, especially in the health sector, prioritizing private practice over public service is discouraged.

Concerning the frequent strikes by resident doctors:

Strikes, not exclusive to medical doctors, have become a pervasive issue in the Nigerian labor sector. Strikes should be a last resort, but unfortunately, they have become a common first-line action, posing challenges to effective healthcare delivery.