Doro Launches Mobile Service Units, Hands Over 10 Vehicles to States
The Federal Government has launched a Mobile One-Stop Shop initiative and handed over 10 vehicles to participating states to improve access to essential services for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable Nigerians.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, announced this on Wednesday during the launch and formal handover ceremony at the United Nations House, Abuja.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and supported by the German Missions in Nigeria, is designed to bring government services closer to displaced persons and vulnerable communities, particularly those in remote and underserved locations.
Speaking at the event, Doro reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that vulnerable Nigerians are not excluded from essential services because of their location or circumstances.
“No Nigerian should be left behind because of where they live or the circumstances that forced them to flee,” the minister said.
He explained that the mobile units would provide services including birth registration, National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment, SIM registration, Bank Verification Number (BVN), bank account opening and registration into the National Social Register.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the ministry’s One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System, which seeks to transition vulnerable Nigerians from temporary relief to sustainable opportunities through identity documentation, financial inclusion and social protection.
Doro stressed that identity documentation remained essential to economic and social inclusion, noting that people without proper identification or registration were often excluded from government interventions.
The minister expressed appreciation to the German government and people for supporting the provision of the 10 vehicles, describing the intervention as a demonstration of international solidarity and investment in humanitarian service delivery.
He also commended UNHCR for its continued support to displaced persons in Nigeria, while urging beneficiary states to ensure the vehicles were properly maintained, secured and regularly deployed to communities in need.
Doro expressed optimism that the programme would eventually expand beyond the initial 10 states to cover all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Olubunmi Olusanya, described the initiative as an important step towards addressing challenges faced by displaced persons and vulnerable communities in accessing civil documentation and other essential public services.
He acknowledged the contributions of UNHCR and Germany, urging participating states to ensure effective deployment and maintenance of the vehicles.
The German Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Stefan Rößel, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s humanitarian response and initiatives aimed at improving access to essential services for vulnerable populations.
Similarly, the Interim UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Ms Vanessa Pala, emphasised the importance of collaboration between the Federal Government, UN agencies and development partners in ensuring displaced persons and vulnerable communities were not excluded from essential services.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of vehicle keys by Ambassador Rößel to Minister Doro, who subsequently handed them over to participating states through the Dean of the Forum of Commissioners of Humanitarian Affairs of the 36 states and the FCT, Dr Helen Isamoh.
Isamoh, who is also the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, appreciated the Federal Government, UNHCR and Germany for the intervention, describing it as significant support for humanitarian service delivery at the state level.
She expressed hope that the programme would eventually be extended to all states and the FCT to ensure wider coverage.
The event was attended by the UNHCR Representative in Nigeria, Mr Arjun Jain; commissioners of humanitarian affairs from participating states; representatives of government ministries, departments and agencies; heads of UN agencies; development partners and other stakeholders.
The initiative is expected to strengthen access to documentation, improve financial inclusion and enhance social protection for displaced persons and vulnerable communities across Nigeria.
