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Tag: relief materials

  • Aisha Buhari donates relief materials to IDPs in Benue

    Aisha Buhari donates relief materials to IDPs in Benue

    The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Wednesday donated assorted relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs. Buhari, who was in Benue to empathise with the state government on the recent farmers/herdsmen crisis, was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Oludolapo Osinbajo.

    Donating the materials at Nogowa Secondary School, Wadata Camp, Makurdi, Mrs Buhari commiserated with the bereaved families, saying that the government was committed to their plight.

    She said that the Federal Government understood what the victims were passing through and assured them that government would not abandon them at this point of their sufferings.

    “I have heard and seen your cries. Cry no more, for we are with you.

    “Today in Benue I have seen old and young men, women and children in the camp and I can see that they have gone through a lot of pains.

    “I have seen that by their looks, it is evident that they are tired of living in the camps but they have no homes because their homes have been destroyed.

    “We are really worried about your situation but do not lose hope we are with you, and we will never abandon you at this point of your need,” Mrs Buhari said.

    Earlier in his remarks, Gov. Samuel Ortom appealed to the Federal Government to tighten security at boarders to end the continued influx of foreign herdsmen into the state.

    Ortom explained that foreign herdsmen were behind the incessant attacks on his people since 2011.

    The governor said, “Unless they are chased out, it would be hard to maintain peace in the country.

    “These herdsmen are very destructive and well-armed. They kill women and children on sight.

    “They are completely different from the Fulani’s that we have lived and cohabited with over the years.

    “We understand that the herdsmen came from Mali, Ghana, Congo, Niger among others and are killing us every day with impunity. This must stop.

    “As we speak, over eight Local Governments have been affected across the state. The situation is really overwhelming,” said the governor.

    The governor said that there was no land for grazing in the state, explaining that all lands belong to farmers in the state.

    He said that 85 per cent of the state population were farmers and occupied the little available land, adding that it would be difficult to create a grazing reserve in the state.

    He suggested that the herdsmen should rather embrace ranches as it was being practiced in developed countries.

    NAN reports that Mrs. Buhari donated rice, multivitamins supplements, cooking oil, garri, tomatoes to the Benue IDPs.

     

  • Buhari’s, Lalong’s wives present relief materials to IDPs

    Buhari’s, Lalong’s wives present relief materials to IDPs

    Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, and that of the Plateau State Governor, Mrs. Regina Lalong, have presented relief items worth millions of naira to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Jos camp.

    Hajia Buhari, who was represented by Wife of Nasarawa State Governor, Hajiya Salamatu Almakura, made the presentation to IDPs in Zawan Commercial College Hostels, Bukuru, Jos in company with the wife of Plateau State Governor.

    The camp manager and Director Stefanus Foundation, Mark Lipdo, said: “The IDPs camp was established in November with over 470 families comprising over 4,000 people. Today, some have returned home but there are still 94 families who have no home to return to in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states.

    There are currently 38 males, 88 females and 340 children totaling 466 individuals, while over 300 families have been successfully integrated into various host communities.

    “We also have over 5,000 IDPs currently in Panda and Karu local governments of Nasarawa state.”

    In her remarks, Mrs. Lalong said: “It is with heavy heart that I stand before you to address fellow women and children who are victims of insecurity in the country.

    “I am here with the wife of our President who has come all the way because of you and because of the level of inconveniences you faced as a result of your displacement from your various homes.

    “As women and mothers, we will do our best to make sure we cushion the effect of whatever you are passing through at the moment and to also encourage you to know that this moment is temporary.”

    In her remarks, Hajiya Almakura, the representative of Hajiya Aisha Buhari, said, “The Wife of our President have received information about your presence in this camp and she has asked me to come and see you on her behalf.

    “These few items have been assembled by the wife of our President and the wife of Plateau state governor as a show of love and to prove that we all share in your moment of hardship.

    “Haven come and seen your situation, I will go and report back to the First Lady and she is prepared to take further action to alleviate your sufferings.

    “Please don’t think your present condition is going to be permanent. The government of President Buhari is very passionate and committed to do all that is possible to return you to your various homes to continue with your normal life as you used to do.

    “So I encourage you to remain calm, hopeful and be prayerful while the federal government proffers lasting solution towards your rehabilitation.”

  • Additional relief materials for rescued Boko Haram victims

    Additional relief materials for rescued Boko Haram victims

    The Chairman of the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE), who also chairs the Special Committee on the Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Prof. Soji Adelaja, has ordered release of additional relief materials to over 1,000 women and children rescued from Sambisa forest, the former stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists.

    PINE Communications Officer, Odutayo Oluseyi, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

    Adelaja issued the directive at the end of a meeting of the Special Committee on the Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) last week.

    While commending the committee for progress recorded, he said that the interim report will be submitted to the federal government very soon.

    He also indicated that the interim report would be only the first part of a strategic and comprehensive intervention plan for the economic redevelopment of the north-east, which will be submitted to the incoming administration through the proper channel.

    The distribution of relief materials, Adelaja said, will commence tomorrow.

    It will kick off with registration and distribution by NEMA and Red Cross at all host communities in Gombe, Taraba, Bauchi and IDPs camps in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states simultaneously.

    He said PINE has mapped a short, medium and long term plan to reposition the north east for a vibrant and robust economy.

  • FG gives relief materials to Ibadan rainstorm victims

    The Federal Government yesterday distributed relief materials to the victims of last Sunday violent rainstorm that hit the parts of the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    It will be recalled that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Senator Olufemi Lanlehin representing Oyo South Senatorial District, last Wednesday called on the Federal Government to come to the aid of the victims of the rainstorm.

    The relief materials, which were brought in six trailers, were handed over to the Oyo state Emergency Management Agency OYSEMA and the chairmen of affected local governments by the National Emergency Management Agency.

    The materials are: 2, 000 roofing sheets; 800-bags of cement; 600 bags of rice; 500 roofing nails; 1, 000 zinc nails and1, 200 blankets; 200 mats; 300 mattresses; 2, 400 2-3-12 planks and 2, 400-2-4-12.

    Speaking while handing over the materials, NEMA Director-General, Dr. Mohammed Sani-Sidi, who described the incident as unfortunate, said that NEMA has been on the vanguard of preaching prevention in disaster management.

    Sanni, who was represented by an acting director in the agency, Mr Eugene Eze, said that the officials of the agency were earlier dispatched to the affected areas for on-the-spot assessment to ascertain the number of victims affected.

    He said that five local governments were mostly affected by the storm, while over 5,000 houses were damaged and 30, 000 people were displaced.

    The coordinator, OYSEMA, Mr Taiwo Mustapha assured that the materials would be distributed to the right people, while promising the state government’s efforts to compliments NEMA’s action.

     

  • A/Ibom community rejects Mobil’s relief materials

    Ibeno, an oil-producing community in Akwa Ibom, has rejected relief materials presented to it by Mobil Producing Nigeria, to cushion the effect of the recent oil spill in the area.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the oil company had, a few days ago, announced that it would send relief materials to communities impacted by the November 9 oil spill from its facilities.

    Many communities in nine local government areas in the state were affected by the spill and it was learnt that Mobil had distributed the relief items to more than 90 per cent of the affected area.

    But Ibeno community turned down the gift on the grounds that the company said that it was donating the materials “on humanitarian ground and not because it is liable for the spill.”

    According to Chief Ukott Esenem, head of the community, the oil company said that the donation of the relief materials to us did not necessarily mean that it is responsible for the spill.

    “If they are now claiming that they are not liable for the spill, it means that something is wrong somewhere,” Esenem said

    He added that it was wrong of the company to distance itself from the spill, and stressed “besides they sent only 60 bags of rice and some other items to the entire Ibeno local government area.”

    He lamented that the area was a major host to Mobil, adding that thousands of fishermen in the area had had their businesses disrupted by the incident.

     

  • Natural disasters: FG assures victims on relief materials

    Natural disasters: FG assures victims on relief materials

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Friday restated the Federal Government’s resolve to alleviate the sufferings of the victims of natural disasters.

    He gave the assurance in Buanchor, Boki Local Government Area of Cross River, after conducting an assessment tour of some communities that were recently ravaged by floods and landslide.

    The vice-president said the Federal Government had earmarked N400 million for the procurement of relief materials for all the affected communities in Cross River.

    He, however, gave an assurance that more relief would come for the affected communities in due course.

    Sambo, who described Governor Liyel Imoke as an honest and hardworking governor, expressed the hope that the victims of the natural disasters would be fairly treated and accommodated.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that he also conveyed the Federal Government’s commiseration for the affected people.

    Responding, Imoke thanked the Federal Government for giving the affected communities a sense of belonging.

    He said that Sambo’s visit was bound “to change the stories” of the victims of the natural disasters and commended the communities for managing the situation in a good way.

    Expressing gratitude to God, the governor noted that no outbreak of epidemics had been recorded in the affected communities in spite of their harrowing conditions.

     

  • Man arraigned for stealing relief materials in Delta

    The Delta State Customary Court President, M.O.C Obeh has adjourned to November 21, hearing in the alleged case of theft of relief materials for flood victims in Delta State.

    Obeh adjourned the case due to the absence of other parties in court.

    The suspect, Emonena Awheme, 50 years allegedly stole relief materials meant for flood victims at the St Michael College relief Camp, Oleh, Isoko South local government area.

    The suspect was caught attempting to remove relief materials from the camp in an ambulance.

    The items included three half bags of garri,one bag of beans,20 litres of ground nut oil, one bag of Omo detergent, 11 empty jerry cans and 50 litres of palm oil.

    The suspect, who spoke to The Nation, said he was not guilty, stressing that the relief materials he is being accused of stealing were sold to him in the camp because they were perishables.

    He said he was tempted to buy the items because they were cheap.

    There had been incessant case of theft of relief materials with Governor Uduaghan recently calling for the removal of an official of another camp at Illah,Oshimili North LGA.

     

  • NEMA gives relief materials to Delta flood victims

    THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the weekend distributed relief materials to flood victims in Delta State.

    It registered 8,790 displaced persons at the Internally Displaced Peoples Camps (IDPCs).

    NEMA Director-General Muhammad Sani-Sidi said more camps would be established to accommodate more people.

    Sidi, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Relief, Mr. Mike Adeyanju, said emergency workers were in the state for rapid response assessment and they discovered that the water level in coastal communities have continued to rise.

    He said: “The agency hired boats to evacuate trapped person at Okpai Obeze, Okpai Umuaguru, Akarai Ekiti, Azagba, Power line and Forest Guard communities to nearby IDP camps.”

    Adeyanju said the agency is involved in the administration of the camps and offers technical assistance to local emergency workers and volunteers.

    He urged the state government to engage all stakeholders in the management of the natural disaster.

    NEMA officials inspected camps at St. Patrick’s College, Asaba; Institute for Continuing Education (ICE), Asaba; Ossissa, Ndokwa East Council; Utagba-egbe, Ndokwa East Local Government; and St. Michael’s College, Oleh, Isoko South Local Government.

    Yesterday, Deputy Governor Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) said over 30,000 persons were displaced.

    Utuama spoke in Asaba when he visited the ICE relief camp.

    He said over 13 local government areas were affected.

    Utuama said about 15,000 persons were in various camps across the state while another 15,000 refused to come to the camps.

    He said the government has the capacity to take care of all the victims and urged people in flood-prone areas to come to the camp.

    Minister of Finance Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said President Goodluck Jonathan has set up an inter-ministerial committee to tackle flood.

    Also at the weekend, the National Commission for Refugees (NCFR) donated bags of gari, rice, buckets, blankets, salt, ground nut oil and palm oil to the victims.

    NCFR Assistant Director Mrs. Ovoudo Abdulahi said the agency’s gesture was to ameliorate the suffering of the victims.

    Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu said skills acquisition training has begun at relief centres across the state.

    She said ICE camp is home to 979 people.