Humanitarian Operations: UNOCHA Looks To Integrate Military Logistics And Planning For Better Outcomes In BAY States
The recent advancement of collaboration between the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Nigeria and the Nigerian Armed Forces marks a significant step towards improving humanitarian activities in the North East region of the country.
The collaboration seeks to provide seamless humanitarian support to communities affected by conflict and natural disasters in North East Nigeria, particularly in states like Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, where the humanitarian need is acute.
The Head of Office for UNOCHA, Trond Jensen and the Theatre Commander for Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar represented their respective Agencies.
Speaking during a courtesy visit at the Headquarters of Theatre Command, Maimalari Cantonment on July 10, 2025 in Maiduguri, Jensen sought for intervention of OPHK in providing military security to its staff for easy delivery and efficient distribution of humanitarian services in response to ongoing crises in the area..
He assured the Nigerian military of judicious use of the humanitarian items by ensuring no items meant for the vulnerable population ends up in the hands of the bad elements of the society.
In his response, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abubakar, assured the UNOCHA of continued military support and collaboration to ensure their smooth operations.
Maj. General Abubakar, while highlighting the significance of services provided by humanitarian organisations, reiterated that kinetic lines of effort amount to 30 percent, while non-kinetic takes 70 percent.
He therefore commended the UNOCHA for the humanitarian services they have continued to render in the North East, while also lauding the International Body for providing training support to the Nigerian military troops, thereby expanding the troops’ capacity and efficiency.
By working closely with the Nigerian Armed Forces, UN OCHA aims to leverage military resources and logistics capabilities to ensure timely and effective delivery of humanitarian assistance. This partnership is expected to facilitate better access to hard-to-reach areas where civilians are in urgent need of support.
