The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said on Thursday that the federal government and the six North-east states spent $6.4 billion on interventions in North-east between 2016 and 2017.
The minister made this known at the launching of the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan, HRP, for North-east Nigeria in Abuja.
The minister explained that the HRP being launched was also in line with President Muhammadu Buhari Plan and the United Nations Development Partnership Framework.
According to her, in 2016, $3.3 billion was spent on intervention, while in 2017 another $3.1 billion was expended.
She said that a similar amount is being budgeted in the 2018 budget, which was still work in progress.
Ms. Ahmed said that Nigerian government as part of her commitment, specifically, announced the sum of $1 billion for security in 2018.
She said that the Nigerian government would ensure that the 2018 HRP is supported and aligned with the humanitarian and development strategies as captured in the Nigerian Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
Ms. Ahmed appreciated all international donors and humanitarian partners for their interventions in addressing the North East crises.
She also appealed for more resources to meet the immediate needs of the nearly 7.7 million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance in the area.
