Key Takeaways:
- Minister Bernard Doro urges Plateau APC unity to deliver on President Tinubu’s poverty reduction agenda.
- Doro highlights ministry reforms and statistics showing 63% of Nigerians face multidimensional poverty.
- He frames his ministerial appointment as a mandate to drive coordinated humanitarian action and stronger electoral delivery.
- Stakeholders were invited to support the ministry through cooperation, prayers and collective action.
Doro Urges Plateau APC Unity to Back Poverty Reduction Mandate
Dr Bernard Doro, the new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, has called on All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in the Northern Zone of Plateau State to unite and work collectively to deliver on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda.
Plateau APC unity vital for delivering results
Speaking at an interactive session in Jos where he formally introduced himself, Doro thanked the President for the appointment and urged party leaders to see the ministerial post as a shared responsibility. He commended the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe, for ensuring the ministerial slot for Plateau State was drawn from the Northern Zone, describing the move as fair and equitable.
Born in Kwal, Bassa LGA, Doro recounted long-standing ties to Plateau State. Although he has resided in the United Kingdom for more than two decades, he said he has regularly returned to engage communities and support political activities. He pointed to his grassroots involvement during the 2023 presidential and gubernatorial campaigns, when he spent several weeks travelling from village to village.
Doro framed his appointment as more than a personal honour. He described it as a “loan” from the President that the Northern Zone must repay with strong electoral results and visible contributions to national development. “Unity is essential for achieving meaningful political outcomes,” he said, urging stakeholders to set aside divisions and work together to strengthen the APC in Plateau State.
Minister outlines priorities for humanitarian action
Since assuming office, Doro said his priority has been to lay a solid foundation for the ministry. He told the gathering that Nigeria faces urgent and complex humanitarian and poverty challenges, citing official estimates that 63 per cent of Nigerians are multidimensionally poor and that about 30 per cent are classified as extremely poor. Those figures, he said, demand coordinated policy responses.
The minister said the ministry has undergone review and repositioning over the past two months, with new policies designed to ensure “no man or woman is left behind.” He highlighted links between poverty, insecurity and educational exclusion, noting the need to tackle out‑of‑school rates alongside economic and social interventions.
Doro asked party members to back the ministry’s mandate through cooperation, constructive oversight and prayers. He pledged to make Plateau State proud through effective service delivery and promised to work closely with local leaders to tailor programmes to community needs.
The interactive session concluded with an open floor for questions and comments, giving stakeholders an opportunity to raise concerns and offer suggestions. Party leaders responded with commitments to support mobilisation efforts and to work with the minister to translate policy into tangible results on the ground.
While the minister appealed for unity and collective action, his remarks also underscored the political dimension of public service delivery. By linking party cohesion to electoral performance and policy impact, Doro signalled that success will depend on both government capacity and local political collaboration.
