Tag: former Senate Leader

National Assembly members from Borno State Friday raised the alarm over the fate of over 14.8 million people affected by the Boko Haram induced humanitarian crisis in the state.

The lawmakers said that unless immediate steps were taken to address continuous poor budgetary provisions meant to ameliorate mounting humanitarian crisis in the North East, disastrous consequences may not be averted.

Former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume who spoke on behalf of other National Assembly members from the state said that they resolved to ask the Federal Government to work in synergy in coordinating the Humanitarian Response Action in the North East and other crisis affected areas in the country to ensure efficiency, transparency and accountability.

Ndume also said that they resolved to appeal to the government to increase the allocation to PCNI from N45 billion to at least N100 billion while other State Governments, individuals, religious organisations, NGO should help the affected states.

The media, he said, should also continue to galvanize support to the affected region.

Ndume spoke on the theme “Relief efforts in the North East especially Borno: The world is worried and doing something” at a press conference in Abuja.

He said, “Norway, together with Nigeria, Germany and UNOCHA is hosting an international donor conference in Oslo today 24th February 2017.

“The Nigerian delegation includes the Governor of Borno State, Hon Kashim Shettima; The Minister of Foreign Affairs and The Minister of State for Budget and Planning who is also a member of the Presidential Committee for North East Initiative (PCNI).”

The Borno South Senator lamented that although the Federal Government is concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation in the region, it is not doing enough.

On the budgetary provision he said, “In the 2016 Appropriation Act only N12 Billion was allocated to PINE to address the humanitarian crisis in the North East out of which only 75% was released. This is less than 10% of the $449 contributed by International Donor countries and Agencies.

“In the Budget proposal under consideration by NASS only N45 Billion is allocated to PCNI. This is grossly inadequate to address the emergency humanitarian crisis we are faced with compared to the $1.0 Billion which is equivalent to over N305 that the International Donor Countries and Agencies are trying to raise.

“PCNI; NEMA; BOSG SEMA; VSF; DANGOTE FOUNDATION are the visible government Agencies on ground but International NGOs are more visible and active.

“Except few individuals particularly Gen T. Y Danjuma and Aliko Dangote, some organizations and NGOs, Nigerians are just watching us going through this horrific experience in our life time.”

Ndume said that it is obvious that the state government is overwhelmed:

According to him, “With the meagre resources coming to the state, there is little the State Government can do.

“However, the state and local governments are using almost all they get to do the basics of feeding the IDPs, payin’g salaries and Reconstructing, Resettling and Rehabilitating the recaptured and accessible areas.”

On impact of the crisis he said, “The conflict between Boko Haram and military counter operations in North East Nigeria resulted in widespread forced displacement, a major food and nutrition crisis, violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, severe protection concerns and a growing humanitarian crisis of global proportion. Now in its eighth year, insecurity continues and is adding to the long history of marginalization and chronic under-development as well as a higher rate of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. Long-standing environmental degradation, Closure of markets and disruption of regional trade also contributes to eroding livelihoods, while conflict has caused forced displacement and human suffering on a massive scale.” UNOCHA.

On key figures engendered by the crisis, he said that14.8 million people are affected by the crisis while estimated cost of destruction is put at over $9 billion.

Ndume said that up to 7.0 million people in the North East are in need of humanitarian assistance while 1.8 million people are IDPs out of which more than 80% are living in host communities and the rest in camps.

He said that 2.5 million children are said to be malnourished, majority of them are in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe while 1.3 million children are without access to education.

Ndume said that over 65,000 children are orphaned due to the crisis while over 500 schools have been destroyed in Borno alone.

He said that over 100 churches and mosques were destroyed while about 1.0 returning lDPs without anything to start life with.

Ndume said that over 100,000 people lost their lives as a result of the crisis while about 250 health centers are destroyed

Other figure he gave included about 800 Municipal Buildings comprising of Police Stations, Secretariat , Prisons and other public buildings amongst others are destroyed 800,000 houses were destroyed; about 500,000 livestock lost,  about 726 energy distribution lines were destroyed, high damage to the ecosystem.

He listed nine steps needed to save more lives and assist people in North East as adopted NGOS operating in the affected areas include the following: “Step 1: Prioritize the Protection of Civilians. Step 2: An urgent scale up of the food and nutrition response is needed, Step 3: Increase Access to More, Better and Safe Quality Education, Step 4: Safe access to people must be guaranteed.

Step 5: Ensure greater investment in further strengthening UN, government and NGO leadership, decision making, coordination and the accountability of the humanitarian response. Step 6: Ensure All Returnees are Safe, Voluntary and Dignified  Step 7: Build Resilience and Increase Local Capacity to defend and fend for themselves,  Step 8: Increase security and protection around the Lake Chad Region to encourage safe return of Fishermen and Farmers and Step 9: Kick start the process to recharge the Lake Chad.