The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Internally displaced persons (IDPs)

  • Opposition elements out to stampede NEMA for selfish gains – Group

    Civil Society Organisation, Coalition for Change and Development has raised an alarm over the ongoing raucous at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) where civil disobedience is being fueled by opposition elements within and out side the establishment which has consequently snowballed into inflicting hardship on the several number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) scattered in camps around the country.
    The group in a statement signed by Dr. Richard Itodo, Executive Director of the organisation said Coalition for Change and Development(CCD) is strongly opposed to any attempt by any individual or group aimed at meting out inhuman treatment which will amount to denial of the fundamental rights of every and any Nigerian.
    “It is on this premise that having concluded investigations and relating with staff, it has been uncovered that the reason for the recent stalemate at the agency is a product of mischief emanating from certain elements who have vowed to disrupt activities for pecuniary gains.’
    “We have discovered with disdain that the former Director General, Alh. Sani Sidi, has vowed to make the agency unstable after his ouster due to several sharp financial practices, in an attempt to subvert legal measures at prosecuting him.”
    “We are aware that Alh. Sidi is currently under investigation by anti-graft agencies for various financial crimes which took place at NEMA  when he held sway.  It is as a diversionary  tactics, he has engineered  the ongoing conflict to disrupt the daily administration of the establishment and thereby stall investigation into his fraudulent activities.
    CCD therefore states as follows :
    “We will not sit back and watch any person or group of persons mischievously frustrate the efforts of government at catering for it’s citizens especially the less privileged as in the IDPs.”
    “That CCD is keenly watching the unfolding events at NEMA , as an interested party with the view to ensure everyone Nigerian gets his due.
    As a Civil Society Organization committed to the tenets of justice and equity,  we will not hesitate to raise the Nigerian populace in protest at the slightest idea of an attempt to subvert positive change in the life of Nigerians in a bid by a few to cover crime.”‘
    “‘The ongoing rocous at NEMA should be amicably suspended and normal operation be resumed to avoid further disenfranchisement of tax paying Nigerians whose taxes have been footing the bills of this self-serving lot.”‘
    “‘Meanwhile, we unequivocally state that  we will not fold our arms to watch certain group of no-gooders frustrate the efforts of well-meaning public servants who are dedicated to delivery of their mandate just to satisfy their selfish intentions.”‘
    “‘We as a matter of obligation warn that if the needful is not done we shall not hesitate to rise to our mandate by moving well meaning tax paying Nigerians to stampede the current barricade at the office premise of NEMA by staff who are in cahoots with these criminal elements and ensure that order and sanity is restored rather agency, the statement added. G

  • FG donates relief materials to IDPs in Edo

    …As Obaseki makes case for Libya returnees

     

    The National Logistics Committee on Distribution of Relief Materials has donated relief items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) being accommodated in Edo State.

    Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Azarema Abdulkadir, disclosed this when he led members of the committee on a courtesy visit to Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki at Government House, Benin City.

    Noting that the donation marks the fifth round of distribution of relief materials to the IDPs in the state, he said the relief materials include; “10,653 bags of 50kg of rice; 33 cartons of 400mg tin of tomato paste; 1,232 cartons of 70mg of tomato paste; 210 pieces of five litre gallons of vegetable oil and 40 pieces of two litre bottles of vegetable oil.”

    Other items are: “5,822 small cartons of Lucozade boost drinks; 993 cartons of Eva soap; 4 cartons of liquid soap; 11 cartons of tablet soap; 329 bales of second-hand clothes and 2,159 pieces of shoes.”

    Read Also:Customs donates 10, 653 bags of rice, other items to Benin IDPs

    Abdulkadir expressed appreciation to state government and people for accommodating persons displaced by the ongoing insurgency in the North East, as the Federal Government continues to make efforts to restore peace in the region.

    “The judicious distribution of the materials by officials in the camp would have tremendous impact on the lives of the IDPs,” he added.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki, who lauded efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government in providing succour to the IDPs, urged the committee to include returnees who are victims of human trafficking in their programme.

    He said, “One of the challenges the state government is dealing with is the resettling and reintegration programme for 3,000 returnees who are victims of human trafficking. We are expecting about 6,000 others. 

    Obaseki assured the committee that the state government will ensure equitable distribution of the relief materials to the IDPs. 

    He urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to also ensure that materials donated are properly stored to prevent damage.

     

     

  • Borno: Presidential Committee treats 5, 000 eye patients

    The Presidential Committee on Northeast Initiative ( PCNI ) on Monday says it is providing free eye treatment to about 5, 000 displaced persons in Borno.

    Ms Amina Maibe, the Administrative Manager of PCNI in Borno, said this while inspecting the conduct of the exercise at the Eye Centre in Maiduguri.

    Maibe said that the two-week exercise was designed to provide surgical operations to 400 patients with cataract and glaucoma, provide treatment to 3, 500 persons with various eye diseases and distribute 1, 000 glasses.

    She explained that over 270 patients had so far benefitted from eye surgeries, while thousands others benefitted from free treatment since the exercise began in the past one week.

    Maibe said that the patients were selected from various Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) camps in Maiduguri and from host communities.

    “The exercise is designed to treat eye diseases and improvement of health status of the displaced persons.

    “PCNI provides transportation to facilitate movement of the patients to the hospital, while free drugs and meals are provided during the treatment,” she said.

    Read Also: 11 killed, eight injured in Borno, Bama attacks

    According to her, the exercise is being conducted in collaboration with the Borno Government and a Borno-based organisation, ARFO Eye Foundation.

    Dr Mustapha Waziri, the Coordinator AFRO Eye Foundation, said that about 20 doctors and health personnel were deployed for the exercise.

    Waziri said the team comprised of opticians, surgeons, nurses and pharmacists, among others. He attributed the prevalence of eye diseases among the displaced persons to the environment, age and malnutrition.

    “Cataract is a common disease, but curable. It is good to go for periodic test to maintain good eye health,” he said.

    Some of the beneficiaries lauded the gesture, saying it would go a long way in improving their health status. Mr Yakubu Gaykub and Modu Bemba, said they benefitted from cataract eye surgeries in the exercise.

    The 65-year-old Gaykub said that he had lost his sight and could not see in the past three years. “I could not see due to impaired vision. I was screened at the camp and went for surgical treatment at the clinic.

    NAN

  • Police arrest female suicide bomber in Maiduguri

    The Borno Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of a female suicide bomber at the Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) camp in Maiduguri.

    According to a statement by Edet Okon, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in Maiduguri, the suicide bomber was arrested by men of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal ( EOD ) team, on Tuesday at about 6: 50 a.m. while lurking around the Internally Displaced Persons  ( IDPs ) camp.

    He said that policemen condoned off the area, diffused the bomb and apprehended the suspect.

    The police spokesman added that the suspect is in police custody.

    Okon said: “on Tuesday, at about 6:50 a.m.,  a female suicide bomber was sighted behind Bakassi IDP camp in Maiduguri metropolis.

    “On sighting the bomber, conventional policemen alongside the EOD team swung into action and cordoned the area, to prevent escape of the bomber into the city.

    “The suspect, one Zara Idriss was rendered safe, arrested and is now in custody”.

    Okon called on members of the public to go about their normal activities without fear and to report any suspicious movement in their localities to security agencies.

    He reiterated the command’s commitments to protect lives and property in the state.

    NAN

  • 21,000 Benue IDPs benefit from WASH interventions – Official

    Twenty-one thousand displaced people are benefiting from the Water Sanitation and Hygiene ( WASH ) interventions in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue, an official has said.

    Mr Ibiyemi Olu-Daniels, the Deputy Director, WASH Emergency Response, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, made the disclosure at a WASH Emergency Working Group Meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Olu-Daniels said that the interventions, funded by the UN Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ), had been able to scale up hygiene promotion programmes to reduce disease prevalence in the camps.

    “In IDPs camps in Guma and Logo Local Governments, water facilities are lacking or decrepit, majority of the IDPs have no access to toilet; it is saddening that about 1,000 people share one drop-hole.

    “This is making open defecation commonly practiced, there is low level of hygiene awareness, Limited WASH sector response is currently provided, but it is not enough,” he said.

    The deputy director, who described the situation as an emergency, called for more interventions to sustain the growing needs of IDPs.

    According to him, the humanitarian crisis in Benue is affecting no fewer than 200,000 people, which was further aggravated by the continuous farmers-herdsmen crisis.

    He said that 12,000 WASH kits had been distributed to IDPs, 10 hand-pump boreholes were rehabilitated and provision of water chlorination to promote access to potable water.

    Olu-Daniels said that part of the intervention was the sensitisation on sanitation and safe excreta management in the host and IDP communities using the Community-Led Total Sanitation approach.

    He said that this would reduce the prevalence of diseases and forestall outbreak of waterborne diseases in the camps.

    Olu-Daniels noted that with support from the state emergency management agency, two camps had been opened for the Cameroonian refugees.

    The deputy director stressed the need for the provision of water points and sanitation and hygiene kits for them.

    He added that the WASH Emergency Response Team was working in Yobe, Borno and Bauchi States toward hygiene promotion through the distribution of WASH kits and sanitation activities.

    Olu-Daniels said that there was need for state rural water supply and sanitation agencies to take ownership of scaling up sanitation and hygiene.

    He said that we should not wait for an emergency before actions were taken.

    Olu-Daniels added that with the continued reports of cholera cases in Bauchi, the team would carry out an on-site assessment to know what immediate response to be given.

    The WASH in Emergency Group is working to see that humanitarian responses, especially in the North-East reach their target population.

    NAN

  • Reps vow to unravel alleged rape cases in IDP camps

    The House of Representative on Wednesday vowed to unravel alleged rampant cases of raping across Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) camp in the country.

    This followed a motion by Rep. Hassan Saleh (Benue-APC) on the “need to investigate the untoward activities going on in the various IDPs camps in Nigeria.”

    Moving the motion, Saleh said government’s effort concerning the care and protection of the IDPs was not enough, hence the need for government to do more to protect the victims.

    He expressed concern over the publication in one of the nation’s dailies of Dec. 17, 2017 on how the IDPs in Nigeria were poorly managed.

    “There are several IDP camps all over the country due to the continuous invasion by Boko Haram which has led to displacement of many innocent citizens from their communities” he said.

    According to him, there are a lot of stories in National dailies including New York Times of the harrowing Experiences of rape allegedly committed against women and girls by men in the camps, especially those who are supposed to protect them.

    He expressed worry that the stories of rape, sex for food and materials, rampant pregnancy and abandonment of young mothers and their children were the same in all the camps across the country.

    “There are also cases of pilfering of relief materials and extortion ravaging the camps.

    “Human Right watch had reportedly written to various government agencies requesting comments on the various allegations emanating from all the camps but has not received any response.

    “The National Emergency Management ( NEMA ) is mandated by its Act to provide relief materials to victims of natural or other disasters and to assist in their rehabilitation but it unable to do so.

    “NEMA and the Refugee Commission which have expanded mandate for IDPs are unable to cope with the level of displacement,” he said.

    The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

    The House, therefore, mandated its Committee on IDPs, Refugees and Initiative on North-East to investigate cases of rape, teenage pregnancy, extortion and stealing of relief materials in IDPs’ camps.

    The committee has eight weeks to carry out the assignment.

    NAN

  • IDPs protest over shortage of food in Adamawa

    IDPs protest over shortage of food in Adamawa

    Hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) from Fufore and Malkohi camps in Adamawa staged peaceful protests over lack of food in their camps.

    The IDPs mostly Women and Children on Wednesday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in their plight.

    Adamawa has only two designated camps managed by NEMA and they are situated at Fufore and Malkohi villages with a total number of about 3,000 IDPs.

    The IDPs, who mostly are from Borno, were in the two camps for over two years waiting to be evacuated to their state of origin.

    The IDPs in separate interviews with our reporter complained that many families in the camps were in critical living conditions due to hunger.

    Malam Adamu Bukar from Malkohi camp said that he has one wife and three children and they only eat once in a day.

    “Since early January, when they distributed the normal thirty days food items to us, we have never received anything again.’’ Bukar said.

    According to him, people living in the camp need urgent food intervention, because any moment from now some people, especially children would die of hunger.

    Also speaking, Malam Haruna Bana, from Borno and living in Malkohi camp expressed fear of imminent starvation and malnutrition in the camp.

    Bana said that they received the last food in December 2017 and since then they were not given anything.

    He appealed to Borno government to come to their aid and evacuate them.

    A security officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, at one of the camp also confirmed the situation, saying that the development was a threat to the camp security.

    “On daily basis, the IDPs in sizeable number go out of the camp to look for food, which is a security challenge to the entire people living in the camp,’’ the source said.

    When contacted over the situation, Malam Abbani Imam, the state Coordinator NEMA in charge of Adamawa and Taraba confirmed the development but said the challenge would soon be addressed.

    Imam said that the state office had already informed the NEMA headquarters of the situation and were waiting for the approval to release food to the camps.

    NAN

  • Alleged diversion of IDPs rice: Police invites Orbih for questioning 

    Alleged diversion of IDPs rice: Police invites Orbih for questioning 

    Edo State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, has invited Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, for questioning over allegations that the state government diverted rice meant Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    Chief Orbih had alleged that 4721 bags of rice meant for IDPs at Ohogua village in Ovai North East local government area were diverted.

    The invitation of Chief Orbih was based on a petition by Governor Godwin Obaseki on the need for the police to make Chief Orbih present facts of the allegations.

    Governor Obaseki had in the petition said Chief Orbih in a a radio interview ‘falsely and maliciously stated that the Edo State Government was involved in a criminal conspiracy to divert 4,721 bags of rice released by the Federal Government for distribution to IDPs in the state’.

    In the petition signed by Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, the Edo Government stated that Chief Orbih further claimed that 300 bags of rice were diverted to a certain Senator in Ondo State.

    According to the petition, “It is instructive to note that in making these allegations to the general public, Chief Orbih claimed that he had facts and records to back up these criminal allegations.

    “The purpose of this complaints is to formally bring these weighty and unsubstantiated allegations to your attention and to request a thorough investigation with a view to establishing the veracity or otherwise of same.

    “It is the contention of the Edo State Government that Chief Dan Orbih should be called upon to provide evidence of the serious crimes he has alleged to have been committed by the Edo State Government and to furnish your Command with facts, details and proof of the allegations he has made in the public domain.”

    State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare who confirmed the development said Chief Orbih will appear before the police.

    Nehikhare said the Edo PDP also wrote a petitioned for criminal incitement of the public against the leadership and members of PDP by the Edo State Government.

    He stated that Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu and the Media Aide to Governor Obaseki, Mr. Crusoe Osagie have consistently issued press releases referring the members and leadership of PDP as bandits, rogues, liars and fraudsters who stole the resources of the people.

    “Edo PDP wants the police to investigate these matters and ensure that those behind these criminal incitements are brought to book.”

    Read Also: Rice, shoes for IDPs: Edo releases distribution roster

  • All registered voters will get PVCs before 2019 – INEC

    All registered voters will get PVCs before 2019 – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) on Monday said eligible persons registered in ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) would get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before 2019 general elections.

    The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known at an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja.

    “Those who registered in 2017, their PVCs will be ready in May; for those who registered in 2018 and those who intend to register will all get their PVCs before the 2019 general elections.

    “For now, we are giving priority attention to Ekiti and Osun governorship elections but all registered Nigerians will get their PVCs before the elections, ” he said.

    Yakubu said that there were 1,446 centres across the country where the voter registration was ongoing, adding that 400 Direct Data Capture machines had been deployed to hasten the process.

    He said that the commission was committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections and improving the electoral process in the country.

    He urged the media to monitor the process of forthcoming governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti and report grey areas for immediate actions by the commission.

    The INEC helmsman said that the media should collaborate with the commission on the task of ensuring credible elections by exposing any form of irregularities.

    He said that discussions were ongoing with telecommunication providers to ascertain the availability of 4G and 3G networks in rural areas to support transmission of election results electronically from polling stations.

    He said that the order of the 2019 elections as announced by the commission remained until a new law on elections was enacted.

    Yakubu said the commission had completed all preparatory steps ahead the elections and that the election budget would be presented to the appropriate authorities before the end of the week.

    He disclosed that the committee constituted to investigate alleged registration of under-age persons in Kano would commence work on Wednesday.

    According to him, the commission knows that a credible election begins with a credible voter register and the commission is interested in knowing what exactly happened in Kano.

    The chairman assured that only credible voter register would be used to conduct elections in 2019.

    In separate contributions, journalists urged the commission to train and monitor the activities of its ad hoc personnel, saying that it was necessary to reduce chances of being compromised.

    They urged the electoral umpire to consider the transfer of rural polling units in the North-East to urban centres so as not to disenfranchise Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ).

    NAN

  • Rice, shoes for IDPs: Edo releases distribution roster

    Rice, shoes for IDPs: Edo releases distribution roster

    …Urges PDP to respect IDPs

    The Edo State government has released the roster showing how the relief materials approved by the federal government for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state, were distributed.

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said that “Out of the total 6,821 bags of rice allocated to Edo State, the total number of bags of rice received by the Edo State government was four thousand six hundred and thirty nine (4,639).

    “Two thousand one hundred and eighty two (2,182) bags were bad, unfit for consumption and were not collected by the state government. These figures can be verified from the customs and the Nigerian Army who witnessed the process of receiving the items.”

    He explained that “no single jar of vegetable oil was received because all of them were expired according to the dates marked on the containers by the manufacturers,” and urged Edo PDP to accord displaced persons the respect and dignity they deserve and should not make them subjects of their concocted attention-seeking fable.

    Osagie said that “on Christmas Eve, 24 December, 2017, IDP camp in Uhogua received 500 bags of rice. Also on Christmas Eve, fifty sacks of used shoes were given to the IDPs in Uhogua. Two weeks ago, IDP camp Uhogua received another 2,101 bags of rice, which brings the total number of bags of rice received by the IDP camp in Uhogua to 2601.”

    He added that “Displaced people in Edo Central, Edo North and orphanages received 1421 bags of rice. The remaining 617 bags are in the State government’s warehouse. We also have about thirty-five sacks of used shoes in the store scheduled for distribution in the weeks ahead.”

    He further said that aside the IDP camp in Uhogua, “We have displaced persons in Ilushi area in Edo Central, Ogbomerhe in Edo North and various orphanages across the state.

    “Don’t you think it is only fair to ensure that all the displaced people across the state and not just in the IDP camp benefit from the rice donated to IDPs? He asked.

    The governor’s aide said the state government “would ordinarily not engage in this back and forth with the Edo PDP because we are certain that the Edo people they robbed blind are still mostly alive and present and they know fully well who the bandits in Edo State are.

    “However, it is necessary to reassure Edo people with facts that the Obaseki government does not possess the PDP’s traits of banditry and insensitivity to the plight of ordinary people.

    “We know that the callous people who make up the Edo PDP will not mind feeding displaced people with expired vegetable oil and rice but the Obaseki Government will never subject the people to such base treatment synonymous with Dan Orbih and the Edo PDP. Remember that Orbih is still being investigated for stealing land belonging to a female secondary school in Benin which his wife attended.”

    Read Also: All items for IDPs including judiciously distributed – Obaseki’s Aide