The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IDPs

  • Managing IDPs

    •Laudable gesture from South Africa but…

    That the Federal Government has been lax in managing the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is not in doubt. Reports emanating from a number of the camps have been that of misery, squalor and the most abject of human conditions.

    In shelters in Abuja and other parts of the north, basic amenities like kitchen, water, electricity, clinics and classroom blocks are almost non-existent. Some camps have been shown to be derelict and unfit for human habitation while food supply and security have posed serious challenges both for managers and inmates.

    We have had cause to raise some of these points here a number of times, calling for a more articulate and professional handling of the IDPs problem that has beset the country since the upsurge of the Boko Haram terror about five years ago. However, as the activities of the terrorists were intensified with more villages sacked early last year, the number of displaced people rose rapidly across the country.

    More camps were also hurriedly set up but without the requisite facilities and support services. We were not surprised however by the reports emanating from two camps in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recently. Two bodies: the South African High Commission working in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Institute (NMI) were apparently moved to intervene in the IDPs affairs.

    As part of the activities to mark the 2015 Nelson Mandela International Day, they had produced and distributed no fewer than 400 identity cards for the IDPs in Area 1 and New Kuchingoro camps of the FCT. Some of the details contained in the identity cards include name and photographs of the displaced persons. Other information include: state of origin, identity card number, signatures and location of the camp.

    Apart from procuring identity cards for IDPs, the team led by the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Mnguni Lulu, also presented what they called support Booths which would serve as information-cum-administrative centre for each camp. These are intended to ease the administration of the IDPs camps as well as ensure effective dissemination of information. Essential items like generators and food stuff were presented by the South African team.

    The envoy noted that his country would continue to support Nigeria and her efforts to contain the Boko Haram menace. Their visit to the camp, according to him, was to improve the quality of lives of the displaced and to promote the legacy of Mandela. He promised that the embassy and the NMI would replicate the gesture in other camps within the FCT for the overall good of the displaced.

    This kind gesture of the South Africans is worthy of commendation and their especial courage to break diplomatic bounds and take needed help to hurting humanity is particularly worthy of note. We hope other countries would emulate this noble gesture and push through official barriers to ferry relief and succour to where they are sorely needed.

    On the other hand, we urge the Nigerian authorities, especially the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and all concerned in the affairs of the IDPs to wake up to the enormous task of managing compatriots who are caught in the crossfire of an insurgency. We wonder how the IDPs have been managed all these years without such basic tool as identification. If the ones camped in the FCT are lacking such basic requirement we shudder at the state of the camps in far-flung areas of the country.

    Apart from the funds voted for taking care of the IDPs, many kind-hearted Nigerians and international organisations would be willing to lend a hand if called upon and if they can observe a professional and accountable management of the problem.

    Lastly, it is common knowledge that no part of the country is still under the control of the insurgents. We therefore urge the handlers of the IDPs to begin to work towards resettling them back to their towns and villages from whence they were displaced. This is the next line of action and it should be done with utmost diligence.

  • Our Girls; IDPs; Reduce bank rates; Rethink CSR: N1m Prize Vs 10xN100,000 Prizes

    Our Girls are still missing since 15th April 2014 even as younger girls are ensnared an evil abuse of the Nigerian child, creating ‘female’ child soldiers forced into terrifying mass murder by suicide bombings. Child soldiers were the sad, pitied and tortured product of war-torn distant African nations where murderous mutations like the Lord’s Resistance Army unconscionably send the loved children of other people to kill and die. Children are easily manipulated, instructed, memory erased, hidden in crowds, name changed, fed, mourned, buried and  easily forgotten as they have no history. So now we have our own 10-year old child soldiers forced by threats of violence by others or brainwashed into blowing themselves up. Boko Haram and ISIS have exposed us to an age of spiralling dangerous depravity. Now we have millions of Internally ‘Disturbed’ Children, unable to go to school or enjoy a normal life among the Internally Displaced People being treated like refugees in their own country. They ‘live’, lifeless, less than half of them in IDP camps, the majority unrecorded, scattered with family across Nigeria. Our Catholic Church with other groups collects funds to help IDPs recover their dignity. IDP camps are not national job-creation centres or photo opportunities for politicians. Importing NGO manpower to run IDP camps is wrong. Vacancies must filled from the IDPs first and then from local communities. Each IDP, like bomb survivors, has personal problems of despair, dignity, esteem, self-sufficiency and responsibility mostly solved by paid jobs or self-employment with donated or loaned business funds. Making a displaced person a paid staff or a teacher in the IDP camp will help repair the psychological and financial needs of a family. The policy of ‘IF IDPs CAN DO IT, LET THEM’ should be IDP Camp recruitment policy.   Meanwhile, our myopic political leadership, mired in divisive politics, neglects the ‘Matters of Urgent National Interest’ facing Nigeria, preferring dangerous selfish political manipulations. Meanwhile, dying for Nigeria are more than 100 normal citizens last week and how many armed forces and police personnel? Dying for what? Nothing?

    Meanwhile the naira value has lost 45% in eight months. Nigeria makes no single ‘machine’ in science, medicine, industry or business- all attempts killed by 39 years of political and electricity power failure. So the cost of every business has risen while profits plunge. We all suffer from naira devaluation. All except the banks which inexplicably defy logic, making annual multi-billion naira profits but doing nothing useful for 99% of Nigeria’s businesses in Nigeria –a ‘Banking Corruption Cartel’ requiring the Buhari Effect to ‘Challenge Bank Culture’ which ignores the naira. Why must Nigerians borrow at 22-25%? What business pays such profits? Only banks! The banks are infamous for internal collective corruption from illegal roll-over of government funds and from round-tripping forex. Bank of Industry tells Nigerians that it is different, even giving loans for solar factories. Good but not enough. We demand low interest funds for all Nigerians.

    Following the ‘Years Of Plenty’ running paradoxically in parallel with the ‘Years Of The Locust’, the economy enters ‘Years of Famine’ with recession and Corporate Nigeria facing austerity and lower earnings. The obvious casualties will be the N4b+ CSR Budget and the beneficiary NGOs and needy. Big companies in the service sector, auditing, accounting, maintenance, catering and entertainment, hotel running give little or no CSR.  This must change.

    CSR has often wrongly been misused as cheap publicity PR gimmicks by corporates. ‘Change’ in CSR and in the Corporate and banking ‘Bonanza Millionaire Culture’ is urgently needed. Genuine CSR must be separated from corporate advertising and bonanzas. The malignant epidemic of ‘Instant Millionaires’ has created a psychological culture among lazy youth of ‘get-rich-quick-and –for no-work-done’. These corporates therefore have responsibility to reverse this mind-set among Nigeria’s youth of ‘Wealth Without Work’.

    CSR ignores the villages, grassroots, the source of corporate earnings. Most CSR is concentrated at ‘Corporate HQ’ and neglect the revenue source – markets, shops, offices, petrol stations, schools, hospitals in villages and towns.

    Nigerians demand a ‘CSR Change Policy’- a ‘Corporate CSR Local Impact Policy 2015’- with more CSR spent at local Points of Sale. At Annual General Mettings (AGMs), corporate shareholders should demand dissemination of CSR to every village. The inclusion of ‘CSR Local Outreach Awards’ for Corporate bodies during Annual Media events will encourage new CSR Strategies. Yes, reward distributors but also use distributors as a ‘CSR Channel’. Use your staff as a ‘CSR Channel’ to their home neighbourhoods and villages. Ask staff to suggest CSR projects. Customers make distributors successful. Corporate Nigeria must ‘Change CSR Strategies’, in CSR, let BRANCHES AND DISTRIBUTORS DISTRIBUTE CSR to communities.

    Corporates must ‘change’ the ‘Instant Millionaire Policy’ reducing THE SIZE AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PRIZES AND WINNERS who must be required to DONATE SOME OF THEIR WINNINGS to their chosen needy cause. There are many orphanages and NGOs in real need of small regular amounts-N10-100,000. If Corporate Nigerian insists on making 2000+ instant millionaires’ annually then put in a ‘’Winners’ CSR Provision’’ to make the winners donate 10-25% to a charity, school or hospital as cash/books/equipment.  The magic of N1,000,000 works abroad, where incomes are higher, but Nigeria’s desperate 120m+ population, poor pay and poverty demand a new Corporate Policy ’change’  with more winners. Corporates would be more relevant, sensitive and valuable, touching lives of more economically, and assist 10 times more families by giving 10 prizes of N100,000  instead one N1m prize.

  • NPC donates relief materials to IDPs

    As part of activities to mark the 2015 World Population Day, the National Population Commission (NPC) has donated relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The items were delivered to the IDPs by a delegation from the commission led by the FCT Commissioner for Population, Dr. Daniel Kwali.

    Kwali who represented the NPC Chairman, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, said the visit was part of the commission’s mandate which is to monitor population growth, dispersal and migration of population within the country.

    He said “when we heard about this camp and other camps in the country, we decided to visit the today to hear from them on the challenges that daily confront them and their.”

    Kwali further stated that the way forward is to plan a long term strategy for the IDPs to go back to their homes once the battle of insurgency is over, which he said that the federal government is already handling.

    He however noted that the IDPs are not sure when the insurgency will be over and when they will feel secure to go back home, hence the need for basic amenities in the camp for the interim period.

    The chairman of the camp, Sunday Moses, expressed gratitude to NPC for the gesture while calling for more support from government.attacks are still going on so we do not know when we will be going back,” he said.

     

  • Shettima cheers up IDPs at meal

    Shettima cheers up IDPs at meal

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima’s meal with Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs lifted their spirits at a Maiduguri camp, DUKU JOEL reports

    The pain and frustration of camp life were apparent, worsened by having to observe Ramadan, one of the most important Islamic injunctions, away from home. Yet, the somber mood gave way as the governor spoke with Internally Displaced Persons IDPs over a meal at their camp.

    The camp kids skipped around innocently, contrasting with their parents’ somber mood. Boko Haram has dealt a severe blow to them, dislodging them from their homes and leaving them no choice but to observe the Ramadan fast at a relief camp. It hurt.

    Amedu Shettima, of Bama nativity, said it was the first time he was fasting at a displaced persons camp.

    Bulama Shehu said, “Whatever they give us here cannot be enough for us. It is painful because those of us that used to feed people during fasting are now being fed. I never imagined I will be in this terrible situation but I cannot question what my creator has destined as a Muslim,” he said.

    “I cannot wait to get out of this place to resume my normal life. This is the feeling of everybody that you see around in this camp. We cannot pretend; life is not normal here at all. Let the government finish with Boko Haram for us to go back,” pleaded Jibril Sani, a father seven.

    For many who spoke with our correspondents, their feelings, thoughts, pains, anxiety, were all the same and they cannot wait to see the end of the crisis so as to restart their lives.

    Governor Shettima seemed aware of the suffering of  his people, organising an ‘iftar’ (breaking of Ramadan  fast) at an IDP camp located at Yerwa Girls College in Maiduguri in the spirit of the season. The iftar was attended by the Emir of Bama, Alhaji Kyari Ibn Ibrahim El-Kanemi who has also been displaced following the destruction of his palace and occupation of Bama by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.

    It is the atmosphere of despair Borno State has started feeling the impacts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration, Governor Kashim Shettima told Internally Displaced Persons in Maiduguri.

    Shettima arrived one of the 20 camps accommodating  part of the people of Bama who have the largest number of displaced persons at about 6:15pm joined the IDPs in congregation for  the ‘Magrib’ prayers at sunset  before settling down to enjoy the breaking of fast with about 2,000 displaced persons.ý

    To ensure a hitch-free event that lasted about two hours, a combined team of security men and youth volunteers provided enough security for the smooth but emotionally charged event at which the governor addressed the IDPs in both English and Kanuri. He informed them that Borno has already begun to feel the impact of the Buhari-led Federal  Government as it has now taken over most responsibilities in funding activities across about 20 IDP camps in Maiduguri unlike in the past when  the state government shouldered most of the responsibilities under the PDP administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “We have started feeling the impact of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.  For instance, from 2013 when we started establishing camps for displaced persons in Biu for the people of Damboa and to the number of camps we have now, the Borno State Government was solely bearing the biggest burden of funding these IDP camps.

    “Today, with the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), has taken over so many responsibilities in these camps and this is how it ought to be ab initio. Today, under the Buhari administration, we have a NEMA that has accelerated its presence in Borno. The agency was doing so much even before the APC administration given the kind of Federal Government they had but the difference in NEMA’s approach today is far different from what it obtained before,” Shettima noted.

    Throwing more light on some of the things the Buhari led APC administration is doing to end the insurgency, he said,

    “ýEarly this (last) week, governors met with Mr President on the state of the nation and one of the President’s renewed assurances was on the fight against the insurgents and  a firm pledge to offer special support to Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. ýI am very confident that this APC-led Federal Government will support Borno State in its healing process and all of you that are internally displaced within and outside Borno as well as those taking refuge outside Nigeria, will insha Allah be supported back on your feet and you will be reintegrated into your communities that will be reconstructed be iznillah.

    “We have the will, we have people that are ready to work, we have a Federal Government that is ready to support and we are ready to deploy whatever resources at our disposal to reconstruct destroyed communities. And let me also say, that supporting you is not a privilege, it is your rights to be supported and it is our constitutional and moral obligation to support all of you,” Shettima explained.

    The ýGovernor while emphasizing the plight of the IDPs urged well-meaning citizens to show love and support for them, maintain that no one was beyond facing challenges in life.

    “Whenever I move from my residence to my office inside the Government House or when I move round Maiduguri and see some of the beautiful estates we are constructing or when I drive through our new hospitals, schools and streetlights, I see the Borno of my vision not the real Borno that is faced with challenges.

    “I then discovered that whenever I am around Internally Displaced Persons camps, I see the real Borno as things are today. And from the faces of the people I see in the camps, I always take with me two messages. On one hand, I see despair, I see pity and shattered dreams on the faces of many. On some others, I see strength and hope that are true to the indomitable spirit of Borno men and women.

    “I love to visit IDPs and whenever I am coming I try to come with as many people as possible so that whoever has no displaced relation or friend in his house here in Maiduguri, will on coming here, be reminded that hundreds of thousands of Borno citizens are in distress. Those of us, who may not be displaced today, would need to know that we are not superior to those who found themselves in the condition they are today.

    “They are not displaced because Allah doesn’t like them; Allah is only testing their faith as He tries everyone through one challenge or the other. We must therefore support our brothers and sisters that are displaced. Our support may not have to do with camps only, if you have displaced persons in your neighborhood, please extend support to  them and show them love and affection. The IDPs are us and we are them,” Shettima admonished

    While the event came to an end, the message of the governor was clear on the minds of the displaced people as the atmosphere became more congenial.

    “What the people wanted to hear is what the governor told them; re-assurances,” a senior government official whispered.

  • ‘We spend N3.5m on IDPs daily’

    ‘We spend N3.5m on IDPs daily’

    Looking after people displaced by the insurgency is a tough task. Chairman of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency Mallam Grema Terab, in this interview with JOEL DUKU, says it costs about 3.5m to provide for the IDPs everyday and that the daily provision might even be cut due to cash crunch. Excerpts:

    Sir, what have been your challenges since your appointment?

    •Mallam Terab
    •Mallam Terab

    Our major challenge is the high influx of IDPs into Maiduguri. When I came on board, we were managing few camps; there were about 13 or 14 local governments displaced by insurgents and we had camps for each of the local governments but now it runs to about 22 different camps.

    Surprisingly, where we thought things were getting better; we are getting more people displaced and many more people are trooping into our camps. We found out that the displaced persons who were taking refuge in the host communities are now coming into the IDPs camps; some of them have exhausted their rent and some of the people hosting them in some of these communities are tired of taking care of them, and the IDPs have nowhere to turn but the camps. This has come to continuously increase the numbers in our camps. We received about 400 IDPs into the Mafa camp, about 300 into Kukawa camp, about 400 into Monguno camp and also a large number of people into Bama camp.

    Those that were formerly living with relatives in the host communities are now trooping into the camps as their host can no longer afford the cost of keeping them. Most of those that were accommodating them thought it was a temporary measure but they later come to find out that days are turning into months and months perhaps turning into a year and the burden just has to be taken off them. Those from Bama have stayed for over 10 months and those from Gwoza for about a year. So it is quite challenging to take care of these IDPs but the government is doing well in providing three square meals but life is not all about feeding. The sanitation is also a priority in the camps, the health care facilities and the basic needs of IDPs, for instance, the soap and detergent to bathe and wash their clothes; they need the body oil and for the women they need the sanitary pads; all IDPs need clothing, baby foods among others.

    It is quite challenging and it is a heavy burden on the state government, this has made us to face a lot of challenges and no matter what the government has invested, it may not be enough and the IDPs have to face one challenge or the other.

    How have you been coping?

    Well, we are doing our best but now with the federal allocation not forthcoming or no more regular and with the state government having a lot of responsibilities, it is very challenging and that is why we cherish the collaboration with international agencies. If they had not been collaborating with us, the humanitarian catastrophe on Borno would have better imagined than experienced.

    The National Emergency Management Agency is taking more interest in the case of IDPs in Borno State and they are trying to listen to us; for the first time they are asking what  should be done and how much we spend, which food the IDPs consume and what the problems in the camps are.

    It is a step forward, for the past four years this is the first time NEMA has shown keen interest in really knowing our problems and they want to share the problems with us and we have received a high powered delegation from NEMA; we have sat down and we gave them the template of how much we spend and consume in the camps in terms of feeding and other upkeeps, and they said they are going to partake in it.

    We hope with the change of government things are going to be better in the near future.

    What does it cost to maintain the camps daily?

    We spend  about N3.5 million on maintenance and condiments apart from the food items on a daily basis for all the camps. What we mean by the condiments is onions, fish, beans, tomatoes, hot and sweet pepper, seasonings, palm oil, groundnut oil, firewood, water and other essential needs of the kitchen. The N3.5 million is also used for logistics like transporting the food items to the various camps and our ambulances, trucks, labourers. The government is trying to reduce it to a minimum of about N1.5 or N1.6 million.

    Is this wise when you think of the fact that people are increasing at the camps daily?

    As you can see, the government for the first time in 10 years has received so far the lowest allocation from the federation accounts, this is not only affecting Borno alone but the whole country. The Sure-P money is no more there, the money from the excess crude account is no more there and what we receive is just little above the salaries of our staff. As you can see that a lot of states cannot even pay their salaries but because the government of Borno has saved for the rainy days, this is why news of Borno state government not paying its salaries has not been heard.

    How do you intend to balance this shortfall?

    We invite all the key stakeholders and actors in humanitarian services and those that are willing to partner with the state government to take care of IDPs. As I said earlier we are partnering with International Committee on Red Cross (ICRC), UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, we intend to receive more international donor agencies. We have met with NEMA and have shown them how much we have spent on a daily basis and what is our requirement in the camps are. We are also trying as much as possible to bring down the cost of running the camps on the bill of the state government to the minimal level so that government can concentrate on other developmental aspects.

    We are not unmindful of the fact that we have the issue of relocating, rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs to their various localities. We are made to understand that Monguno is now peaceful and accessible and that people can now begin to go back to Monguno, maybe Gubio and Guzamala, we have access there but Bama that constitutes the largest number of IDPs is still not cleared by the Nigeria Army, the government is doing its best to reduce the cost of running the camps and as a transparent government we must be prudent in the management of our resources.

    Is the support from some of the international bodies enough or perhaps you need friendly countries to come to your assistance?

    Without their contributions and assistance I do not think the government of Nigeria, with the way we have handled ourselves in the last four years can overcome this crisis, in terms of fighting and overcoming these insurgents, taking care of the IDPs, rebuilding, restructuring, rehabilitating and resettling the IDPs to their various localities at the same time is not going to be an easy thing for the government. Though we have a new and serious government, we believe we are going to do better if the international community especially friendly nations can come to our aid in the shortest possible time. What the government needs to do is too numerous to mention and that is why the intervention of the international bodies is necessary and timely. Mr. President spoke recently when he was in Niger that a lot of international bodies promised him that when he emerges as the president they would come in to build our blown bridges, build schools, hospitals and a lot of social amenities. If the president of Nigeria is looking for international assistance, why can’t Borno look for international assistance from anywhere? Even though we had meeting with NEMA and it was trying to take responsibility for the running of the camps, from what we are doing it is not enough so we need help from all quarters.

    Does Borno State have a good deal with the federal government so far?

    In the past four years, we [didn’t have] a good deal because what we received in the last four years was just N200 million and our counterpart Adamawa that was not as hit as Borno State with about six local governments affected received about N4.5 billion. We had 20 out of 27 local governments captured by Boko Haram  and we are the worst hit. If you go to Bama, you will see how it was destroyed, even N10 billion cannot rebuild Bama. The activities of NEMA and other federal government agencies like the Presidential Initiatives on the Northeast and many others were brought to participate very well in Adamawa, a state that is not the worst hit. With the coming of a new president I believe we should have a better deal and since the problem started here and much destruction was here we are expecting a better deal. This seems to have been taking note of by the new president who have been drawing Governor Kashim Shettima close where the issue of insurgency is to be discussed. We are now feeling we are part of this country and that the president cares for us. We feel that in the nearest future things are going to go well but in the past we were not carried along.

    What might be responsible for that?

    Maybe politics or our leaders here in the state have not blown the whistle very well or perhaps the media has not played the needed role. The media should have blown the whistle about happenings here.

     

  • Osinbajo to IDPs: Buhari is concerned about you

    Osinbajo to IDPs: Buhari is concerned about you

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to end terrorist insurgency in the North East, and restore the livelihood of Nigerians who have been badly affected by it was restated again Thursday in Yola by Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

    Prof Osinbajo who has been traveling in the North East in the last two days on the instruction of the President told IDPs in the NYSC camp and terrorism patients at the Federal Medical Center, both in Yola  “every day the president is thinking about you. That is why he sent me. To come and see, take notes, to understand what is going on, to hear from you, so that I can report to him for positive action. That is why I am here.”

    He said the President wants the IDPs and all victims of terrorism to be hopeful, that there would be restoration.

    “He asks me to say to you that there is hope, great hope. That the federal government under his leadership will ensure everything is done to provide for you and resettle you back to you homes, your work, your businesses and your places of worship.”

    He added however that the people should be patient. “But you have to be patient. As you know, the government has very little money. We are running after all the money everywhere, so that we use it to serve you.”

    Osinbajo also noted that the Federal Government will take seriously the need to sweep off land mines and other forms of explosives from farmlands in territories recently recovered from insurgents.

    Speaking at the Bajabure NYSC Orientation camp in Damare area of Girei Local Government Council of Adamawa State, the Vice President observed that the task of de-mining affected farmlands in the recovered areas ravaged by insurgency would receive utmost priority of government, as it is a very important step in achieving the primary objective of rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced persons back to their homes.

    Explaining the seriousness of the situation, the Vice President said terrorists  “plant land mines and other forms of explosives , making it difficult for people to resettle and that is the reason why it is absolutely important for us that the farmlands are swept clean of mines and explosives. That is a matter we shall take seriously, that is de-mining of farm lands.”

    While commenting on the problem of unemployment, and poverty in Adamawa State, the VP disclosed that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is specifically concerned with these major problems.

    He said “naturally on the concern about the question of unemployment in this State and the question generally about poverty in this particular State, the Federal Government is specifically concerned about the issues of mass poverty and one of our cardinal campaign promises is that the poor in this country must not be left behind and must not be forgotten.”

     

    He thus reiterated the commitment of President Buhari towards the alleviation of poverty among the masses, promising that Government has made it a high priority.

    Meanwhile, during his interaction with about 2,100 internally displaced persons being accommodated in the camp, the Vice President informed them that because President Buhari was concerned about their welfare and the general condition in the camp, he had instructed him to visit them and to find out how they were coping.

    He assured them of government’s readiness to rebuild their homes, places of worship, markets, schools and provide other necessary infrastructures which would enable them settle down to normal life in their communities when they return home.

    Osinbajo assured the government of Adamawa State that the administration of President Buhari was committed to assisting them rebuild and reconstruct affected parts of the State.

    During his visit to the State, Osinbajo visited some of the wounded soldiers and other victims being treated at the Federal Medical Center, Yola.

    He was accompanied by the Governor of Adamawa State, Senator Bindow Jubrilla and other dignitaries.

    Osinbajo had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha, who expressed delight in the readiness of the Buhari presidency to confront the insurgency crisis in the state and other parts of the North East.

     

  • Photo: Osinbajo with IDPs in Maiduguri

    Photo: Osinbajo with IDPs in Maiduguri

    Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday paid a surprise visit to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria.

    During his visitation to Maiduguri, the Vice President made an Emotional Speech when he came in contact with little Aishat Ibrahim.

    Osinbajo-Maiduguri
    Inside the camp of Internally Displaced People in Maiduguri, Northeast-Nigeria

     

     

     

     

     

     

    osinbajo-Maiduguri
    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo checking on little Aisha Ibrahim

     

    Osinbajo-Maiduguri 3
    The VP in the IDP camp in Maiduguri
  • Osinbajo’s message to Maiduguri IDPs

    Osinbajo’s message to Maiduguri IDPs

     

  • Red Cross feeds IDPs in Yobe

    On Monday when 5500 Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs got relief materials in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, everyone in the city knew that something remarkable was happening. An unusual traffic gridlock built up around the central Roundabout area of the town. Commercial tricycle operators made brisk business ferrying food items meant for the IDPs.

    The food items were distributed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

    The 300-meter gridlock at the Ministry Integrated Rural Development area caused a nightmare for motorists in the town. After the first day of the distribution, word got out to others, which was why the entire section of the road swarmed with IDPs queuing up day after day to collect the relief materials.

    Not everyone who came got the relief items materials as the Red Cross and the ICRC had already registered a total of 8500 displaced people in the State.

    As part of its considered objective of responding to the consequences of armed violence, ICRC through its humanitarian initiatives provides displaced persons with basic household necessities, such as cooking utensils, hygiene items, bedding and mosquito nets. They also provide and distribute shelter materials, food and clothing to help them cope during the most vulnerable period of their displacement.

    A field official of the ICRS who provided some information about the distribution in the state but asked not to be quoted informed that a total of 8500 displaced families will benefit from the scheme. Out of the number, 5500 are from Damaturu, 3000 from Potiskum.

    Each beneficiary, according to him, will go home with three bags of rice; three bags of beans; two packs of salt and bottles of oil as the food materials while the non-food relief materials include soap; mats; sanitary towel; blanket; mosquito nets; bucket; kitchen sets and tarpaulin.

    The officer further explained that his organization had initially embarked on a comprehensive and coordinated process before arriving at the figure.

    “We initially embarked on what we call map-out, then the registration of the IDPs. After that, we take a need assessment of the displaced people [who] we then issue a permit card for each of the persons accredited or screened in the family.

    “Without this process, you cannot benefit from what we are giving out unfortunately even if you are genuinely a displaced person. You have to be captured through this process,” the source explained.

    With the distribution coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan and  more than half of the population of the state fasting as Yobe being a predominantly  Muslim state, the number of the displaced people kept on swelling as many that were not registered also evaded the distribution that lasted for one week.

    Those who got the materials were however full of praises to Red Cross. Throughout the town, commendations have been pouring on the organisation even from non-beneficiaries.

    “Anybody that has seen these materials that Red Cross has provided for these displaced people will know that our government (both state and Federal) are only paying lips service to the care of the IDPs in the state,” a civil servant in the state who does not want his name mentioned, said.

    Lawan Gudusu, a 60-year-old displaced blind man from Goniri in Gujba Local Government area of Yobe State, married to three wives and has 12 children, was happy when a Red Cross volunteer told him the list of items he collected.

    “Haba, they gave us all those items? That will take care of us for a long time. This is the best thing that has happened to my family during this fasting. We have been surviving on very little ration that I normally go out and get from public-spirited people through begging.

    “It has not been easy but with what we have now from these people (ICRC); it can take us through the fasting period. Whoever decided to provide this for us will see Aljanna  (heaven),” Gudusu said.

    Lubabatu Sani, 35, who has seven children, said she has not seen this kind of help from anywhere since they were displaced from their hometown in Goniri and relocated to Damaturu where they have been taking refuge for the past one year.

    “To say the truth, since the problem of Boko Haram started, different people and individuals have been giving us help but I cannot compare this particular one to any of those. This help is truly coming from people with a good heart and intentions and Allah will reward them abundantly,” she said.

    Like Lawan Gudusu, Bintu Molima a widow with 9 children has been barely surviving during the fasting period. Her husband was brutally murdered in front of her house in the presence of four of their children at Katarko.  According to her, the relief materials she got are just “timely and Allah’s design”.

    “This help I can say is designed from Allah to save people like us that have no hope. I lost my husband to Boko Haram when they slaughtered him like a goat in my presence with four of my children watching. It has not been easy (she broke down into tears)”.

    Information available indicate that what is been provided for the displaced people is only for a ration of one month and that the ICRC will still be back to carry out what it refers to as Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM) to determine the impact of the materials on the IDPs and also see the need of subtracting items not need or adding those that may desire their dire need.

    Our correspondent observed that apart from the food and non food materials that the ICRC has provided, it has also provided job opportunities for some of the able displaced youths working in the distribution unit of the program with some Daily Wage allowances.

    Commercial tricyclists are also feasting on the available market being provided at the venue of the distribution. It was gathered that some of the tricyclists normally come out around 4.00am to queue up so as to make money.

    One of the tricyclists informed that they normally collect not less than N1000 per drop depending on which part of the town the beneficial would be going to.

    “This is good business for us. The least that we do collect from one person is N1000. Some people pay more than that depending on which direction you are going to. It is good business for us because one drop is N50 and before you get N1000, you must have burnt so much petrol so it’s better to queue up here,” he said.

    Our correspondent also observed that security is very tight at the distribution centre. While the soldiers and police battle with screening the tricycle operators before the gain entrance into the venue, the main venue is saturated with sniffer dogs and bomb detective experts that continually combs as a proactive measure of averting any unforeseen danger.

  • USAID, UN to assist IDPs with $10.5m grants

    USAID, UN to assist IDPs with $10.5m grants

    United States government has announced $10.5 million grants for people displaced by Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

    The U.S humanitarian assistance since the start of the crisis has risen to $44 million.

    The country Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle, announce the release of the grants on behalf U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) in humanitarian assistance for internally displaced populations.

    The grants will support the activities of the United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve access to health care services for affected populations in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States.

    USAID Mission Director, Michael T. Harvey, signed the document releasing the grant with the three UN agencies in the presence of Entwisle and the governors of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States.

    According to a statement issued by the U.S embassy and made available to Diplomatic Correspondents in Abuja on Thursday, the envoy said, “As we look forward to Nigeria’s success, the United States remains committed to extending our partnership to support the Nigerian people’s vision to accelerate this country’s economic and social development.”