The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IDPs

  • Minister inspects facilities at IDPs’ camps in Borno

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has visited some health facilities at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Borno State.

    The visit was aimed at ensuring that the health facilities at the camps were functional and that the ad-hoc workers providing the healthcare services are also exhibiting their best professionally.

    The minister, who interacted with the displaced persons at the camps, assured them that Federal Government would continue to provide healthcare services for them at the camps.

    Adewole, accompanied by the WHO Country Director, Alemu Wondi, the Commissioner for Health, Borno State, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, the National Co-ordinator, Health and Nutrition Emergency Response Programme, Dr. Ngozi Azodoh  and other top government functionaries, visited Teachers Village  IDP Camp in Maiduguri where a large number of the displaced persons  were receiving care.

    The minister had a discussion with some of the ad-hoc staff providing psycho-social health service at the IDP camp where he expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment shown by the ad-hoc staff in conducting their assignment.

    The minister had earlier visited the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital where patients with serious psycho-social problems were referred.  He urged the workers of the Psychiatric Hospital to be vigilant and watchful so that they could detect new challenges on different patients, especially children.

    Fielding questions from journalists after the visit, the minister said the Federal Ministry of Health remained committed to providing necessary healthcare services in the state.

    Adewole said: “Health and Nutrition Emergency Response actually started in February. I am highly impressed with what we are doing. We have come to review what we have done, access the progress and the impact and tinker with the plan so that we can become perfect.”

    Speaking on whether the programme would end within the six months initially designed,the minister said: “We know that the programme cannot end in six months, the drugs that we brought to Borno would last them for the next two years, we are quite confident that extending it would not be as costly as the initial flag-off. We don’t have to buy new ambulances, we are not buying new delivery trucks, we are not buying new drugs, what we need to do is just to keep the personnel and some money for logistics.”

    The WHO Country Representative, Dr. Alemu Wondi said he joined the Minister for the inspection to get first-hand information on what the 25 teams from the Federal Ministry of Health were doing in Borno State.

    Wondi said WHO also have other teams reaching out to communities that are far from health facilities in Borno State.

    Mshelia appreciated the commitment of Federal Ministry of Health for the Health and Nutrition Programme, adding that partners, such as UNICEF, WHO, IMO, are also in the state providing support on nutrition.

  • Displaced people will no longer queue for food –DG NEMA

    Displaced people will no longer queue for food –DG NEMA

    …trackers used to monitor food movement

     

    The new Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja has disclosed that displaced people will no longer queue for food or any relief materials from NEMA.

    The DG who was in Nguru on Monday  to monitor the food supplied to the northern part of Yobe also disclosed that the agency is using tracker from the headquarters to monitor the movement of vehicles conveying food from and to all NEMA warehouses.

    The Nation reports that Federal Government on Thursday last week lunched a multi-billion naira food intervention program for the north east by the Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in Maiduguri.

    Engr. Maihaja while fielding questions from journalists explained that, “It used to be the displaced people queuing in the sun, under the rains and in other very harsh conditions for hours and sometimes people collapse. But when I came in, with the support of the acting president, we decided to make the distribution door-to-door. The main reason is that there is an established report that hunger might strike the north east so as a responsive government, we don’t want to be caught unawares therefore it has taken up the responsibility to feed our people. We are bringing in is 40,905,000 metric tons to be distributed to the north eastern states of the country”, Engr. Maihaja explained.

    The DG also announced that the food will be distributed to the people door to door based on the voucher issued to them during the enumeration period, adding that, each household will be given food based on the number of family members on the voucher.

    He assured that all the IDPs, the vulnerable group and people in the host communities will benefit from the food intervention program of the federal government. The Nguru visit according to the DG was to ensure that all the trucks of food sent to the area are on ground, while expressing his satisfaction over the ongoing enumeration exercise.

    He added that food meant for the eastern and southern parts of the state will be stored at Damaturu and Potiskum respectively before onward distribution.

     

  • Relief for Abuja IDPs

    Relief for Abuja IDPs

    Senate President Bukola Saraki donates food items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kuchigoro, near the Games Village, Abuja, GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports  

    In Kuchigoro near the Games Village is an unflattering community of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who relocated from the Northeast due to the activities of Boko Haram. Life has been quite tough there, so when the Senate President Bukola Saraki came with his team, the residents were expectant. They were not disappointed, for Saraki came with food items.

    The Senate president took the opportunity of the holy month of Ramadan to express their love for the less privileged in the society.

    The delegation was received by the evangelist of the camp, Mr. Jude Kaghala and other leaders of the camp.

    The Senate President donated food items including rice and toiletries for distribution to inhabitants of the camp and said while the executive was working in collaboration with the legislature to rehabilitate and resettle the IDPs in their original communities; it will ensure that their life is made better on a daily basis.

    Saraki said: “We have not forgotten you and we will not forget you. We will continue to work to ensure that you return to your individual villages and towns. But while you are here, we will ensure that your life is made better every day.

    “This is why we decided to come and identify with you, to know how you are coping and to comfort you. We share your pains and we are doing what needs to be done to make your towns and villages habitable once again. We will make sure you live a better life.”

    Senators who accompanied Saraki on the visit to the Kuchigoro IDPs camp included Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, Philip Aduda, Abubakar Kyari, Mohammed Hassan and Baba Kaka Garbai.

    The Evangelist of the Camp, Mr. Khagala thanked the Senate President and his team for the visit and the food items and toiletries he donated for use by the IDPs.

    He promised that the rice, soaps, deodorants and body spray he donated will be evenly distributed among the IDPs, especially the pregnant women and children. He said the food could not have come at a better time than this Ramadan period.

    While praying for the Senate President and his delegation for the august visit and donation of items to alleviate their plight, he called on other well-meaning individuals in society to emulate the Senate President’s kind and fatherly gesture.

    “We are honored to receive you in our midst today. We want to thank Mr. Senate President and all the distinguished Senators for this visit. We also thank the Senate President for the rice and all the other items he has donated to us.

    “We will distribute them to our people here to help them as they partake in the Ramadan fast. We cannot thank him and the Senate enough. We also thank you for the work the Senate has done in passing a bill to create the North East Development Commission. We pray the Almighty Allah to reward you,” Kaghala said.

    At the end of the visit, it was as if the senators should not leave them as the children told Abuja Review that they have never felt happy like this since in the camp with the presence of the lawmakers, urging them to keep visiting with season till they relocate back to their respective states.

  • Dangote foundation donates N20m in foodstuff to IDPs

    Dangote foundation donates N20m in foodstuff to IDPs

    Foremost businessman Aliko Dangote has donated food items worth about N200 million to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State.

    Dangote, who made the donation through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, pledged to complement government’s efforts towards ameliorating the suffering of the IDPs.

    He reiterated that donation became more urgent especially because of Ramadan.

    The Chief Executive of the Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, who made the donation on behalf of Dangote, said it was part of the foundation’s humanitarian efforts towards the well-being of Nigerians in need.

    “This gesture is in continuation of the group’s efforts to provide succour to Internally Displaced Persons in Borno State.

    “The foundation is providing food items worth N200 million to support IDPs in the state. The items include Rice, Spaghetti, Sugar, Salt, Millet, Maize, Noodles, Semolina and Wheat Meal,” she said.

    Governor Kashim Shetima thanked the Dangote Foundation for its continuous support to the people.

    He said: “Words are not enough to describe how grateful the people of Borno are to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his Foundation, who has relentlessly come to support and share in our plight in our time of need.”

    Executive Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency Ahmed Satome said the Dangote Foundation is unique because it provides all classes of food required by the IDPs, in line with the global acceptable standards.

    According to him, 371,000 IDPs will benefit from the intervention.

  • Govt begins door-to-door grains sharing for IDPs

    Govt begins door-to-door grains sharing for IDPs

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday in Maiduguri unveiled a new and more effective distribution plan for delivering relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons in the Northeast.

    The new plan differs from the undignified practice of forcing people to queue up for food.

    Under the new plan, which Prof. Osinbajo kicked-off at the Bakassi Camp, camp officials will now be demanded to deliver food items to the IDPs at their door-steps in exchange for a pre-issued voucher.

    Acting President Osinbajo, while unveiling the new strategy, said the plan is part of the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari towards catering for the needs and welfare of IDPs in the Northeast.

    Osinbajo, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said: “We are incorporating the voucher system, which do not only make the process of relief distribution transparent, it will improve our own data collection and our national capacity to plan for what will be a quarterly exercise.

    “As we restore and maintain security in the region, we must not lose sight of the need to provide social service, food, education, healthcare, shelter as well as resettlement and livelihood support.

    “Today, the Federal Government flags off what will be a quarterly grain distribution programme for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and by this, we are saying to our brothers and sisters in the Northeast that our country does not take their burdens lightly and we are not blind to their difficulties.

    “I am particularly pleased to say that the grains that we’ll be distributing, which comprise of Sorghum, Maize, Soya Beans and Rice, are produced locally; they are produced here in Nigeria by our own farmers.

    “This has always been the vision of Mr. President for our country, to grow what we eat, and to eat what we grow and to use what we make. These grains have travelled from various locations across the country, from as far afield as Ibadan, and as close as Gombe; escorted and protected by the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian military and in some cases will be airlifted by the Nigeria Air Force.”

    He said the Federal Government would work closely with states to provide other assistance to the IDPs including health services.

    He hailed the partnership support from international partners such as the UN, World Food Programme, NEMA, the military, the police, other security agencies and state governments in the region.

    He also thanked neigbouring countries like Cameroon, Chad and Niger for their support in the joint fight against terrorism.

    The Acting President, who on arrival paid a courtesy visit on the Shehu of Borno, Umar Abubakar Gabai Ibn El-Kanemi in his palace, told the traditional ruler and members of his Emirate Council that President Buhari sees the welfare of the IDPs as the responsibility of government.

    The Shehu of Borno thanked President Buhari for his commitment to the restoration of peace in the State and entire region.

    He noted the laudable efforts of the Buhari Presidency at recovering the kidnapped Chibok girls and attending to the welfare of IDPs across the region.

    Upon arrival in Maiduguri, the Acting President inspected the consignment of about 30,000 metric tonnes of the food items to be delivered across the region by 1,032 trucks.

    The distribution is for affected IDPs in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe states.

    Prof. Osinbajo during the visit also inspected some facilities such as the NEMA warehouse, the Bakassi IDP camp office and the premises of a school located within the camp.

  • FG begins door-to-door sharing of grains in IDP camps

    FG begins door-to-door sharing of grains in IDP camps

    …Osinbajo explains new food distribution plan

     

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday in Maiduguri unveiled a new and more effective distribution plan for delivering relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons in the North-East.

    The new plan differs from the undignified practice of forcing people to queue up for food.

    Under the new plan, which Prof. Osinbajo kicked-off at the Bakassi Camp, camp officials will now be demanded to deliver food items to the IDPs at their door-steps in exchange for a pre-issued voucher.

    Acting President Osinbajo, while unveiling the new strategy, said that the plan is part of the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari towards catering for the needs and welfare of IDPs in the North East region of the country.

    Osinbajo, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, said “We are incorporating the voucher system which do not only make the process of relief distribution transparent, it will improve our own data collection and our national capacity to plan for what will be a quarterly exercise.

    “As we restore and maintain security in the region, we must not lose sight of the need to provide social service, food, education, healthcare, shelter as well as resettlement and livelihood support.

    “Today, the Federal Government flags off what will be a quarterly grain distribution programme for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and by this, we are saying to our brothers and sisters in the Northeast that our country does not take their burdens lightly and we are not blind to their difficulties.

    “I am particularly pleased to say that the grains that we’ll be distributing, which comprise of Sorghum, Maize, Soya Beans, and Rice, are produced locally; they are produced here in Nigeria by our own farmers.

    “This has always been the vision of Mr. President for our country, to grow what we eat, and to eat what we grow and to use what we make. These grains have travelled from various locations across the country, from as far afield as Ibadan, and as close as Gombe; escorted and protected by the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Military and in some cases will be airlifted by the Nigeria Air Force.” he added

    He also said that the Federal Government would work closely with States to provide other assistance to the IDPs including health services.

    He commended the partnership support from international partners such as the UN, World Food Programme, NEMA, the Military, the Police, other security agencies and State Governments in the region.

    He also thanked neigbouring countries like Cameroon, Chad, Niger for their support in the joint fight against terrorism.

    “While great progress has been made, there is still a great deal more to do. The reward for hard work as they say is more hard work and we have shown that as a people, we are up to the task.” he said

    The Acting President, who on arrival paid a courtesy visit on the Shehu of Borno, Umar Abubakar Gabai Ibn El-Kanemi in his palace, told the traditional ruler and members of his Emirate Council that President Buhari sees the welfare of the IDPs as the responsibility of government.

    The Shehu of Borno thanked President Buhari for his commitment to the restoration of peace in the State and entire region.

    He noted the laudable efforts of the Buhari Presidency at recovering the kidnapped Chibok girls and attending to the welfare of IDPs across the region.

    Upon arrival in Maiduguri, the Acting President inspected the consignment of about 30,000 metric tonnes of the food items to be delivered across the region by 1,032 trucks.

    The distribution is for affected persons in of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe States.

    Prof Osinbajo during the visit also inspected some facilities such as the NEMA warehouse, the Bakassi IDP camp office and the premises of School A located within the camp.

    With the Acting President at the event were governors from the region, including Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, and Governor Bindow Jubrilla of Adamawa State. Yobe State Deputy Governor Abubakar Ali was also present alongside members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, the National Security Adviser to the President, General Babagana Munguno, Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, and the Governor of Central Bank Godwin Emefiele.

     

  • Saraki to IDPs: govt will not forget you

    Saraki to IDPs: govt will not forget you

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has assured Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that the government will continue work to ensure their security, social and economic wellbeing, as well as safe return to their homes.

    He spoke when he led a Senate delegation to the IDP campt at Kuchigoro, near the Games Village, Abuja.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, said the delegation was received by the camp evangelist, Mr. Jude Kaghala, and other camp leaders.

    It added that Saraki donated food items, including rice and toiletries, to the IDPs.

    According to him, the executive was working with the legislature to rehabilitate and resettle the IDPs in their original communities.

    The statement reads: “We have not forgotten you and we will not forget you. We will continue to work to ensure that you return to your villages and towns. But while you are here, we will ensure that your life is made better every day.

    “This is why we decided to come and identify with you, to know how you are coping and to comfort you. We share your pains and we are doing what needs to be done to make your towns and villages habitable once again. We will make sure you live a better life.”

    Mr. Khagala thanked the team for the visit and donations, promising that the items will be distributed evenly.

    “We are honoured to receive you in our midst today. We want to thank Mr. Senate President and all distinguished Senators for this visit. We also thank you for the rice and other items given to us.

  • Boko Haram did not hijack IDPs’ food

    Boko Haram did not hijack IDPs’ food

    The World Food Programme (WFP) has denied that food items meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were hijacked by Boko Haram insurgents.
    The statement by the agency reads: ” The United Nations World Food Programme strongly denies reports in The Cable and other media alleging Boko Haram ‘hijacked’ bags of WFP rice en route to an IDP camp in Damboa (Borno State) last week (Friday, May 26). The reports are totally inaccurate. All WFP food dispatched in Nigeria over the past week arrived safely at its destinations without incident. No WFP convoy was on the road to Damboa when the incident allegedly took place. WFP takes every precaution to ensure that all food is delivered safely and intact to hungry people who need it the most. This includes strictly following and complying with all necessary security protocols for dispatching food convoys in high risk areas such as Damboa. WFP would of course condemn any diversion of humanitarian assistance.”

  • Greatest evil as reactions trail bedbug infestations in OAU

    Greatest evil as reactions trail bedbug infestations in OAU

    If any OAU Student were asked to choose which was better, between being sucked to death by losing blood or losing foodstuffs to rats every night; a typical OAU student will rather go for the latter. At least it is better, losing foodstuffs to the destructive tendencies of rats since they will surely respond to poison where fumigation of bed bugs is irresponsive.

    The recent infestation of bed bugs and the clamor by affected students of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University is one situation stronger than the cry of hunger from the camps of IDPS or Meningitis pandemonium as history persists to knock on the door when only two years ago, on the 29th September 2015, the University of Lagos was shut down by students due to the influx of bedbugs, rendering habitation on Campus hazardous.

    For Dahunsi Paui, a 500-level Medical Rehabilitation student of the College of Health Sciences of the Obafemi Awolowo University, it was a rosy welcome to the embers of the institution widely renowned for learning and culture, on the eve of his resumption that those heinous insects struck.

    He was quoted thus: “this bedbug rise is really bad! I came back to school just to lie back on the bed and I felt a bite on my neck! I stood up immediately to see bedbugs! The school should do something about it.”

    While others might think there maybe be redemption for the extermination of bedbugs in the various Halls of Residences in the institution, Praise Moses, a 300-level student of the Faculty of Arts and Olabode Tokunbo, a 300 level student of Sociology and Anthropology department beg to differ.

    “There were days I had to go to academics to sleep, just because of bedbugs. My friends in ETF hall used (Not sure about now though) to go to other rooms to sleep. Everywhere is infested; even God cannot save us because OAU is too filthy for him. Only a meticulous cleanup of the hostels will do,” Praise added.

    Tokunbo while narrating his experience stated that the fear of bedbugs is the beginning of wisdom. “Personally,” He stated,  “during my part 2 first semester, I could recall how I was incessantly falling ill unknown to me that it was as a result of bedbug usually coming to feed on me while I was having my sweet siesta, meanwhile I always thought it was malaria as a result of mosquitoes. Fast forward to second semester part 2, and I can count how many nights I passed in my room for the fear of bedbug. And it’s that same reason amongst others for my failing to resume but I have no option than to just resume.”

    The bedbug infestation has continued to generate several reactions from both fresh and stale students alike. Many students have continued to beckon on the management to find lasting solutions to the menace, as well as construct new hostels and properly fumigate its bushy environments.  Lawal Ayobami Victor has blamed the management of the institution of irresponsiveness whilst urging other students to engage in a solidarity stance in bettering the adverse welfare conditions.

    “Let people take some level of responsibility if the management is refusing to do something. After all, it’s not the management that those things are biting. In Nigeria, University management has seized to be in existence in matters relating to students’ welfare, but they are just there for other reasons- Pocket infrastructure.”

    While Ayobami Victor is not wrong in terms of his contribution as he nursed his grievances on the issue long overdue; strong indications from the past are sure to resurface again if care isn’t taken to avoid history repeating itself over and over again.

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  • Committee urges stakeholders to ensure sanity in IDP’s camps

    Committee urges stakeholders to ensure sanity in IDP’s camps

    The National Logistic Committee on Distribution of Relief Material to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has called on agencies to always ensure sanity among residents.

    Mr Abdulkadir Azarema, Chairman of the committee, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin, Edo state on Monday that this would bring about harmony and peace.

    Cue-in aduio

    ” The issue of social menace, we are happy here, the pastor has told us that there is no social or sexual harassment between IDPs and there are no cases of diseases.

    ‘’Nevertheless in other places we have had some cases.

    “The agencies responsible for maintaining camps; the state government, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and health officials should put hands together to ensure that IDPs camps are secure from insurgency.

    “They should make sure it is protected from internal problems like conflict between IDPs, conflict between security agencies and social workers and the issue of sexual harassment should be curtailed.

    Cue-out audio

    He said that the Federal Government was making efforts to ensure that IDP’s return to their various communities.

    Azarema said that the military, police and other security agencies had complimented the efforts of each other to ensure security in such communities.

    He added that the IDP’s, however, have an option of deciding the appropriate time to leave the camps.

    “The ones in Benin particularly, we have heard from them that some of them want to stay here to complete their education which they have started.

    “So we cannot say that they must go back since they have an ambition to accomplish their education.

    “We are glad they are getting support from the state government and other donor agencies,’’ he said.