The Nation Newspaper

Tag: North-East

  • UN seeks urgent action on children starvation   

    UN seeks urgent action on children starvation   

    The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is calling for an urgent action from the Federal Government to implement necessary policies that will reduce starvation among children in the north east region of the country.

    UNDP Country Representative, Edward Kallon made the call Tuesday at the unveiling of 2016 Global Human Development Report, held in Abuja.

    The report shows that between 2005 and 2015, Nigeria’s Human Development Index (HDI) increased from 0.466 to 0.527 – a 13.1 percent increase.

    Kallon said though the current administration has made significant contributions but emphasized need to intensify efforts as 8.5 million people are in urgent humanitarian need while another 50, 000 children are severely short of food.

    He said: “We are all aware of the humanitarian crisis in the North-East of the country and the looming famine in that region. Although efforts by humanitarian development actors, under the leadership of the Government have yielded significant results, many challenges remain as an estimated 8.5 million people in that region are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance; over 5 million remain food insecure; and some 50,000 children are at IPC level 5 of food insecurity. The need for action, especially for the children, couldn’t be more urgent.”

    The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a set of standardized tools that aims at providing a common currency for classifying the severity and magnitude of food insecurity. The evidence-based approach uses an international standard which allow comparability of situations across countries and over time.

    “As the UN’s lead agency with a mandate to eradicate poverty, and promote sustainable human development everywhere, here in Nigeria, UNDP has produced several NHDR focusing on various issues defining development in Africa’s largest economy. These reports continue to shape policy interventions and public debate around many development issues affecting millions of people in the country,” he added.

    According to Kallon, the report launch was timely considering major challenges such as economic recession and humanitarian crisis confronting the country.

    He noted that even though the global under-five mortality rate had reduced between 1990 and 2015, with the sharpest decline being registered in sub-Sahara Africa and extended life expectancy by six years, the fall in the global prices of major export commodities such as iron ore, copper, crude oil, gold, cotton and cocoa since late 2014 has affected human development.

    However, the UN representative called for the development of ‘tough policies’ to address economic recession and humanitarian crisis in the country.

    “Economic growth is necessary but not sufficient condition for human development; it is possible to achieve high levels of human development even with modest levels of growth. What matters is the source and spread of growth; and how growth is managed and distributed for the benefit of everyone.

    “Addressing the twin problems of economic recession and humanitarian crisis facing the country calls for tough policy choices. We should utilize the opportunity provided by the national launch of this report to promote policy dialogue, at both national and sub-national levels, to enrich on-going programmes aimed at implementing the economic recovery and growth plan, the SDGs and Africa Union’s Agenda 2063 to ensure that human development is realized for everyone and that no one is left behind,” he said.

     

  • North East on the brink of famine – World Bank

    The World Bank on Tuesday warned of imminent famine and food shortage in the North East.

    The World Bank Country Director, Rachid Benmessaoud, gave the warning at the dashboard launch of Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative (PCNI) in Abuja.

    Benmessaoud said the bank will focus its $775 million intervention on problems relating to health, education, social protection and livelihood deficits.

    He said, “North East Nigeria is currently faced with a confluence of humanitarian development and security related crisis, a situation which calls for strengthened humanitarian development and security collaboration to deliver a comprehensive and strategic response across the short-medium and long term.

    “The World Bank’s $775-million financial support to the North East Nigeria focuses on addressing service delivery gaps in health, education, social protection, livelihood deficit, youth unemployment and social cohesion issues created by the protracted crisis.  The North East is also facing a credible risk of famine and food scarcity which is amplified by the conflict.”

    The bank restated its commitment to support humanitarian organisations to achieving the goal of addressing immediate needs of the people and providing long-term socio-economic solutions.

    The PCNI Chairman, Mohammed Danjuma, said about N1 billion has been spent on the north east reconstruction project.

    He added that about N7 billion was still needed for the entire rehabilitation project.

  • Boko Haram: Nigerian troops must respect human rights—Commander

    The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, says  his troops must respect human rights in the counter insurgency operation against Boko Haram terrorists in  the North East Zone.

    A statement issued  on Tuesday  by Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director,  Army Public Relations, said Irabor  made the assertion when he received   the representative of the Executive Secretary,  National Human Rights Commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu, in Maiduguri.

    Irabor  said that the provisions of the Operation’s code of conduct and rules of engagement were testimonials to the professional and positive disposition of the command and its troops to human rights and international humanitarian laws in the conduct of the war against terrorism.

    He said  that compliance with human rights and other laws of conflict had been brought into the main stream of training in the Nigerian Army.

    “ Aside the code of conduct which has been adequately distributed to troops, the Nigerian Army has also established Human Rights Desks at the Army Headquarters and Divisional Headquarters,’’ he added.

    He reiterated  that military duties revolved around personal and national sacrifice.

    Irabor, however, expressed dismay that the military which had volunteered to sacrifice for peace and development of the nation was being  perceived  in some quarters as willingly violating human rights.

    He assured the commission  of the willingness of the Theatre Command to partner it in promoting human rights accountability  in the North East Zone.

    Ojukwu, on his part, said  the commission was pleased to acknowledge that the military  was already conscious of the need to carry out the counter insurgency operation with utmost respect for human rights.

    He noted that respect for human rights was beneficial to both the military and Nigeria in general.

    Ojukwu commended the army  for initiating  the quarterly human rights dialogue with the commission, saying it had  further enhanced the human rights disposition of the force.(NAN)

  • ‘Political madness’ in the country must not divide us – Buhari

    ‘Political madness’ in the country must not divide us – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged the Nigerian Army to ensure the unity of the country despite what he described as “political madness in the North East, the Niger Delta or in the East” of the country.

    Buhari spoke on Friday night when he was hosted in Abuja by the Army at the Guards Brigade Regimental Dinner and presented with the captured Boko Haram flag.

    While receiving the flag, President Buhari challenged the armed forces on the need to continue to ensure the survival of Nigeria as a geo-political entity despite the crisis in parts of the country.

    “All these political madness in the North East, the Niger Delta or in the East should not be allowed to cause division or any form of tension in the country.

    “There are 250 ethnic groups, so keeping Nigeria one is a task that must be done, even for your personal reason you must make sure this country remains united and stronger.

    “We will do our best to build the national institutions in the country,” Buhari said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the flag was handed over to the President by the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. -Gen. Lucky Irabor.

  • Issues with North-East and development

    As part of measures to restructure the north east region, the Senate recently passed the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) Bill into law. The Bill empowers the federal government to set up an independent commission to fast-track the rehabilitation and development of the states in the North-east region devastated by insurgency. The states to benefit are Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Kano and Plateau states. The fund to restructure the region is expected to come from a 3% allocation of the country’s Value Added Tax (VAT) for a 10-year period.

    This determination by the federal government and the NASS to initiate laws to support the restructuring of the devastated north east region, and bring succour to the IDPs in the region, should be seen as a welcome development. In the last six years, the North East region of Nigeria has witnessed heavy economic devastation following the activities of insurgency. Several thousands of lives have been lost and displaced from their homes, while properties worth billions of dollars have been damaged in the region. The kidnap of over 200 school girls in Chibok since two years, some of whom have been released, was one of several incidents that took the sail off the winds of the ship of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    According to a Vanguard newspaper report, it is estimated that no fewer than 20,000 lives were lost, while 2.1 million out of the 14.8 million people (mostly women and children) were displaced by the insurgency in the last six years. If that is true, Nigeria would need something close to $9 billion for the reconstruction of the region, while the sum of $6 billion would be needed to carry out recovery efforts in the crisis-torn area. Borno State suffered damage worth $3billion in housing alone and about 84% of the 2.5million IDPs suffering from malnutrition and who need protection are children. Hundreds of schools have been damaged with over a thousand teachers and school children killed, leaving one million children with little or no access to education.

    For us to understand the critical issues to be addressed in the North East, let us juxtapose the situation there with that of the Niger Delta.  In the case of the Niger Delta region, there are still indications of rising tension despite the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta (MND) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).These institutions have yielded little contributions to the growth of the region, since their creation over a decade ago. The region has gulped about $40billion which came from oil companies, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, 13% derivation and other intervention funds. The region has struggled to annex its potential and liberate the people from poverty, unemployment, insecurity-borne out of increasing militancy, and humanitarian crisis. Leaders in the region have continued to enrich themselves at the detriment of the ordinary people. The lack of accountability and transparency, politicisation, poor implementation of projects, has worsened the environment and deepened poverty rather than bring peace in the host communities. Consequently, the people in the Niger Delta region have become poorer than they were even before the commissions were established. A critical example is the state of oil pollution in Ogoni land, which has crippled the economic sources in the region, bringing untold hardship to the people.

    To avert such malicious experience of the Niger Delta from repeating itself, the NEDC must do everything it can to dismantle the obnoxious Almajiri caste system. Rather than blame the plight of children in the North East to the insurgency being experienced in the North East let us look inwards and tell ourselves the truth: that years before the Boko Haram insurgency the Almajiri caste system had already confined the life of the boy-child to one of uncertainty. On a good day, the boy-child in the North East is usually left to the battle with the elements. Left without food and decent clothing and recreation, he easily becomes prey to powerful religious predators lurking in the wings that will use him to foment trouble. The system exposes children, mostly boys, to the streets where they become potential danger to society and ready tools in the hands of mischief makers. Therefore, if the recent bill passed into law for the North East will be expected to deliver on the quality of life of the people of the North East, and especially of the children, that caste system should be tossed out of the window.  As part of its plan to make the NEDC work and not go the way of the NDDC, government must fully eradicate the Almajiri system and ensure that funds made for the development of the north east are put to the building of schools, the provision of security and safety that will take the children out of the street, and yank the rags of vulnerability from off their tiny frames.

    Furthermore, the NEDC must be fully committed and focused on establishing infrastructure such as good roads, housing, information technology centres, building of schools, primary health care centres, address ecological challenges, support agriculture and technology industries, among other issues Germaine to rebuilding the region.

    In conclusion, the constituted commission, relevant agencies, CSOs, security operatives, religious and traditional bodies, should morph to achieve significant milestone. The relevant authorities involved in the restructuring of the region must shun corruption, nepotism, religious bigotry, and embrace transparency and accountability in the rebuilding process. All hands must be on deck to achieve the expected goal set out for the restructuring process and attract the needed peace and security in the region.

    – By Charles Iyare

    Benin City, Edo State.

  • NBA expresses concern over Niger/Delta, North East crisis

    NBA expresses concern over Niger/Delta, North East crisis

    …Inaugurates groups to aid FG’s efforts

     

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed concern over the destructive activities of militants in the Niger Delta region and Boko Haram in the North Eastern part of the country.

    As its contribution to Federal Government’s efforts to curb the crises, the NBA yesterday inaugurated two task forces to work in both regions of the country.

    Speaking while inaugurating the task forces Monday, NBA President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) noted that the twin challenges of insurgency and militancy in the North East and Niger Delta constituted a threat to national security.

    Mahmoud said the country has suffered from insecurity as a result of the activities of insurgents and militants.

    “Although the 1999 constitution provides that the security, protection of life and property is the primary duty of the government, the Bar and the general public have roles to play in tackling the security problems in Nigeria. Let me also commend the commitment and political will exhibited by the Buhari Administration in the fight against insurgency in the North East.

    “We have in the last year and half seen the liberation of most of the areas previously held by the insurgents and the restoration, to a large extent, of normalcy in the region.  Earlier this month Nigerians were delighted to receive the heart-warming news of the release of 21 out of the 219 Chibok school girls held in captivity for more than two years”.

    Mahmoud equally commended the military and security agencies for the success achieved.

    ‎”The NBA has reviewed the state of affairs in the North East region of Nigeria, especially the severe security problems confronting our members in particular and innocent citizens in general. In the last 12 months, I have visited the IDPS in Maiduguri 3 times the last being a campaign tour in my quest to occupy this office.

    “I recall during our last visit, some of my colleagues on the campaign broke down in tears on sighting the hundreds of malnourished children who were orphaned in the camps.

    “It is also worthy of mention that the insurgency in the North East has affected the independence of the legal profession and the welfare of our members.

    “Legal practice in North Eastern Nigeria has been largely disrupted as a result of the insurgency in the region. Our noble colleagues in that part of the country are besieged and endangered.

    “There are even many of our members from other parts of Nigeria who have lived and practiced in North Eastern Nigeria for years. Some even married and settled there. But as I speak most of our members have not only lost their practice as professionals, but have also lost their livelihoods and physical wellbeing.

    “Even some of our members are regarded as insurgents and threatened with prosecution. Also judicial officers are loathe to adjudicate on certain types of cases in the absence of adequate protection of their lives and families. This is the situation in which our members have found themselves in the North East of Nigeria”, Mahmoud said.

    On the trouble in the Niger Delta, Mahmoud said: “the devastating impact of the conflict on the various communities and citizens living in the region. It is clear that the environmental destruction and the human suffering and the general impact on the national economy are huge.

    “We believe that there is need to inculcate law into the development plans and objectives for the Niger Delta region. We consider law to be crucial to unlocking the potential key areas in the Niger Delta. Law can be applied to the framework for maritime and coastal security, ocean governance, trade, natural resources development, peace and conflict resolution initiatives.

    “It is our hope too that we can make our services available to address any possible negotiations between the various communities and actions in the region aimed and at achieving resolution of the conflicts”.

    Members of the task force for the North East are, Prof. Mohammed M. Tabiu – SAN – (as Chairman), Prof. Ayo Atsenuwa – Alternate Chair, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, Rakiya Mukhtar Tofa,  Altine Ibrahim, Hafsatu Mohammed and Hassan Maidoki.

    Others are Lauretta Adaeze,  Hauwa Shekarau, Amina Ibrahim, Ronke Ige, Alfa Ibrahim, Isa Muhammad Nurudeen and Kunle Adegoke.

    Members of the task force on Niger Delta are;  Albert Akpomudge, SAN – (as Chairman),  Ledum Mitee Esq (as  Alternate Chairman), Mia Essien (SAN),  Mba Ukweni, SAN,  Q. E. B. Offiong (SAN), Charles Ajuwa (SAN) and Sosoprieye Long Williams.

    Others are Kelvin Ejelonu, Muyiwa Olowokure, Sagir Gazawa,Mrs. Lillian Ene Ogar , Nkiruka Maduekwe, and Alex Mouka Esq.

     

  • Sustaining the military action in North-east

    As the Boko-Haram insurgency which began about a decade ago rages, and proving almost intractable, the Nigerian military can be seen to remain steadfast in its determination to bring the insurgents to their knees.

    Even as unconventional a war as the war against insurgency is, the military has shown great courage and resilience and this has been rewarded with the recapturing of 19 out of the 20 Local Government Councils in the North-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe which were hitherto in the firm control of the insurgents.

    Recent reports have it that the military is indeed on top of the situation. That explains why only one Local Government Council area, Abadam located at the border of Niger Republic in Borno State that is yet to be liberated from the clutches of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    It will be recalled also that soon after President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 29 May, 2015, he ordered for the immediate relocation of the Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The essence was to ensure that the Military had first-hand information about the insurgents’ mode of operations in the North-east. Also, the relocation was intended to expose the military to the realities on ground, to enable them re appraise, re-strategize and re-direct their counter-insurgency plans at the terrorists’ activities.

    Indeed, it is incontrovertible that President Buhari has absolute confidence in the ability of the Nigerian military to bring an end to the insurgency of the Boko Haram sect. To this end, his administration has remained committed to completely eradicating the Boko Haram menace at the shortest possible time. For instance, in a statement recently released by thePresident’s media aide, Garba Shehu: “The Buhari’s administration was already taking concrete action to build a more efficient and effective coalition of Nigeria and neighbouring countries against the terrorist group.’’

    Similarly, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed recently led a group of 33 journalists, working with Nigerian media organizations and their international counterparts to the hotbed of the insurgency – Maiduguri, Kondugua, Kaoure and Bama. This was aimed at exposing the journalists to the realities in the region, for them to see and write their stories from the standpoint of knowledge, rather than sensationalism, hearsay and conjecture.

    According to the minister, “Today, I can report to you that the entire 70 plus kilometres stretch from Maiduguri to Bama and all the way to Banki which leads to Cameroun and the Central African Republic are in the hands of our gallant troops. They have so degraded the capacity of Boko Haram that the terrorists can no longer hold on to any territory just as they can no longer carry out any spectacular attack.’’

    As part of the government’s effort to sustain the ongoing military success in the war against terror, the minister in a forum with political editors in Lagos, disclosed that a national security awareness campaign will soon commence across the country to raise awareness among Nigerians about the war, the sacrifices of our troops, and how to stamp out the remnants of the war. He said: “Jingles are being played on national radio and television as part of the campaign in order to keep the media better informed about the war, so that they can also better inform Nigerians.’’

    Following from what he said of the military campaigns against the insurgents, Lai Mohammed enjoined Nigerians to support the military in the fight against terrorism in the country. In his words: “It is our turn as civilians to give them our support; to realise that the war they are fighting is not their war alone, but our war, hence we must own the war.’’

    In the same vein, the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye said, “The success achieved by the military in tackling insurgency in parts of the country is commendable and can be sustained through intelligence gathering mechanism put in place by security operatives.” He spoke at the ‘Let’s Go a fishing’ programme organized by the RCCG, Region One, held at the CMD field, Magodo, Lagos Mainland.

    According to the Church Leader, “Boko Haram insurgency was an internal insecurity problem that can be curtailed through a transparent partnership arrangement between the local people and the security operatives. Let us do our best to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies by volunteering vital information that would be investigated and crime and any form of criminality will be reduced in our society.’’

    There is no denying the fact that since President Buhari came into office, the morale of the Nigerian military has been heightened. No doubt, reclaiming territories from the insurgents has been the President’s priority, and the insurgents have now abandoned conventional warfare tactics and strategies owing to the losses they have suffered while trying to defend territory.

    The President has also made series of diplomatic moves – the signing of regional and bilateral anti-insurgency agreements and the immediate payment of $20 million of Nigeria’s share of the logistics to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) is illustrative of this point.

    Nigerian security forces have also killed several kingpins of the Boko Haram sect, coupled with substantial disruption of the media coordination between Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which Shekau had officially pledged loyalty to its leader, Abubakr Al-Baghadadi in March 2015. The inability of the Boko Haram sect in recent times to release scary videos and stage spectacular attacks as it were, is a confirmation of the fact that their strengths is beginning to fail them, and in no time, they may be forced to take flight.

    It should be remembered that before now, Maiduguri, the major city of the North-east was under incessant attacks and harassment by the Boko Haram terrorists. Today, the situation is slightly different as Maiduguri is a bit secure from Boko Haram’s daring raids. This is evidenced by the fact that attacks of the terrorists have been restricted to the outskirts of Maiduguri as they flee. It is pertinent, therefore, to note that Boko Haram threats to Nigeria’s territorial integrity has to a very large extent, been curtailed by the intensified campaigns of the Military.

    One of the sore points in the anti-terror campaigns by the military is the non-release of the abducted Chibok school girls. Even the non-release of the Chibok girls does not vitiate the fact that terrorism is indeed being defeated in the country. In fact, a dispassionate and objective assessment of the situation in the North-east reveals that truly, the military has completely degraded and decimated the deadly terrorist group. Even with cases of suicide bombings in the North-east, it can still be correctly said that terrorism is being defeated.

    In the US, for instance, with 9/11, America still experiences the San Bernardino, California attacks that killed 14 and injured 21 at a County employee meeting and Christmas party on December 3, 2015. Yet, it can be said that America has not been subjugated by her terror experience.

    The November 13, 2015 attack on Paris which also claimed several lives and brought a dangerous moment to the entire Europe speaks volume. Yet, the world did not say France did not survive her terror experience. In the same vein, the fact that Nigeria still experiences some attacks on soft targets such as suicide bombing of markets, churches and mosques does not imply that barefaced terrorism of Boko haram is not yet defeated or degraded by the military.

     

    • Ikemitang writes from Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Abuja.
  • Group commends FG, military for successes against terrorist

    Group commends FG, military for successes against terrorist

    The Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) on Sunday commended the Federal Government and the Nigerian Armed Forces for their exploits and success at taming the activities of terrorists in the North East.

    The group gave the commendation in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr Adekunle Aderibigbe to commemorate the 15th Anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists’ attacks on the United States.

    It would be recalled that the deadliest attacks by the Islamic extremists left so many people of different nationalities dead in that attack.

    The statement reads, “Buhari Youth Organisation joined various institutions in remembrance of the affected ones who lost their loved ones to the terrorist attack of the black letter day in the United States of America.

    “We want to commend the Nigerian government for curbing the excesses of terrorists in the North-Eastern part of the country. The efforts of our military and supports from concerned foreign institutions in the region and Internal Displaced Persons has earned the nation good reputation,” it said.

    The statement, however, said that more was still required to be done in the fight against terrorism in the country as well as rehabilitating people in the affected areas and their environment.

    It urged the relevant authorities to put necessary measures in place to prevent terrorists’ attacks rather than proffering solutions after attacks.

    “In order to guide against similar occurrence in the future,  BYO is calling out to the government and related institutions to step up on Database Management and intelligence.

    “This could be used to monitor trends, behaviours and activities in order to forecast likelihood of terrorism or related crimes in the nearest future,” it added.

    Meanwhile, the group said that its belief in security of lives and property had made a member of its Board of Trustees Amb. Abayomi Mumuni, a security expert, to be launching two works on terrorism.

    According to it, the books titled, “Global Terrorism and its effects on humanity’ as well as “The Demands by Terror” are being launched on this memorable day in the United States and United Kingdom.

    NAN recalls that the Sept. 11 attacks on U.S. were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda on the United States in 2001.

    It would be recalled that the september 11 attacks in the US al-Qaeda an Islamic terrorist group led to the death of  2,996 people with 6,000 others injured with the destruction of the twin Towers of the World Trade Center complex and other surrounding structures in New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia and others.

    The group wished its grand patron, President Muhammadu Buhari and all Muslims all over the world a happy Eid-el Kabir celebration and called for peaceful coexistence.

  • Military will restore full peace to North East – Buratai

    Military will restore full peace to North East – Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has assured that the military will restore full peace to the North East in line with the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Buratai gave the assurance while addressing troops undergoing training at the Nigerian Army Special Forces Training School at Buni Yadi, Yobe.

    He charged the troops to sustain the momentum of ongoing counter insurgency operations to flush out the insurgents.

    According to him, “Operation Lafia Dole’ has entered a critical stage. You must sustain the momentum; there is no going back

    “There is no time to waste. We want full restoration of peace in the North East. That is what the president wants’’, the chief of army staff said.

    Buratai later told newsmen that he was in Buni Yadi to see how the troops undergoing the Special Forces training were faring.

    He explained that the exercise was to make the personnel resilient and be able to withstand challenges they might face in the course of the ongoing operations.

    Buratai also explained that the school was relocated from Niger state to Buni Yadi in view of the strategic location of the town in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents.

    “We know the importance of this place – Buni Yadi. This is the route they (insurgents) passed through to other parts of the North East and even Plateau in the North Central.

    “It is better for us to have dominated and taken over the place’’, he said, and assured the troops of their welfare and logistics need, including required equipment to prosecute the war.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Buni Yadi is the headquarter of the 27 Task Force Brigade of the Nigeria Army.

    It will be recalled that Buratai had charged the military to remain focused until the insurgents were crushed, when he spoke at the end of a three-day “Combat Support Arms Training Week 2016’’ in Maiduguri, on Wednesday.

  • Boko Haram: food scarcity hit liberated communities

    Boko Haram: food scarcity hit liberated communities

    … NEMA donates food to IDPs in Yobe

    Just in time, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) presented 2000 bags of 25kg of rice for displaced people in the state as communities liberated from Boko Haram are now faced with food shortage in the state.

    The Nation findings revealed that returnees to liberated communities are facing serious food shortage as they strive to engage in farming activities which they abandoned in the last five years due to the capture of their communities by Boko Haram.

    The State Deputy Governor Engr. Abubakar Aliyu who is also the Chairman of the State Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Construction Committee noted that the intervention is coming at a time the state is dire need of taking care of the displaced people who are either returning to their communities or staying in the IDP camps.

    Engr. Aliyu also requested for the assistance of the Federal Government to help fast track the resettlement of Boko Haram victims and the speedy reconstruction of the destroyed communities and infrastructures in the state, adding that “it has become imperative for the state to relocate and resettled the displaced people with the return of peace in their communities”.

    He also called on the Federal Government to release the balance of the share of 71 trucks of grains that was allocated to the state from the Federal Government Strategic Grains Reserve which the state received only 34 trucks.

    Making the presentation, the Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, North East, Mohammed Kannar disclosed the commitment of the Federal Government to the upkeep of the displaced people in the state in particular and the North east in general.

    He noted that the Federal Government through NEMA will continue to implement the systematic arrangement of taking care of the IDPs which he noted is enshrined in the National Contingence plan which include the provision of food, food security, rehabilitation, reconstruction, resettlement and integration.