The Nation Newspaper

Tag: State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)

  • IDPs: Yobe plans effective post-crisis reconstruction

    The Yobe Government on Wednesday said it had mapped out areas of focus for effective post-conflict recovery and reconstruction of persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency and their communities.

    Alhaji Musa Jidawa, the Secretary, State Committee on Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu.

    Jidawa said the recovery plan would focus on provision of food and non-food items, water and sanitation, shelter, health, education and protection of IDPs.

    Jidawa, who is also the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said the recovery plan was developed at a retreat organised by the state government for stakeholders of humanitarian services in the state.

    “The recovery plan includes restoration of means of livelihood through agriculture by providing facilities and skill acquisition,” he said.

    He said the retreat recommended “identifying the root cause of the crisis and addressing same as part of the recovery plan and establishment of trauma centre to address psycho-social and mental health problems among displaced persons”.

    According to him, stakeholders in humanitarian services operating in the state have advised government to prioritise the recovery projects in accordance with peculiarities of the returnee communities.

    “The stakeholders unanimously recommended extension of the gesture to host communities where IDPs reside, having over-stretched the existing facilities before returning to their communities,” the secretary said.

    Stakeholders that attended the retreat include; Dr Mariam Masha, representative of the Vice President, Alhaji Tujjani Tumsah, Vice Chairman, Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative (PCNI), Alhaji Sani Sidi, Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Prof. Sunday Ocheche, Executive Director Victims Support Fund (VSF).

    Others were; United Nations Agencies, National Commission on Refugees Migration and IDPs, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) and local and International Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

     

  • UNHCR flags off shelter kits distribution to IDPs in Yobe

    UNHCR flags off shelter kits distribution to IDPs in Yobe

    The United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) has begun the distribution of building materials under its Shelter Kits Intervention Programme for victims of Boko Haram insurgency in Yobe State.

    This intervention is coming barely a week after the State Chairman of the Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Resettlement Committee, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu who is also Deputy Governor of Yobe State made a clarion call on donor agencies to shift from food donations to displaced people to assisting them with materials that will enhance their livelihoods.

    During the flag off ceremonies which took place separately at the two most hit Boko Haram local government areas of Gujba and Gulani in the state, community leaders of the two local government areas expressed their deep appreciation to the UNHCR, describing the intervention as timely.

    The Chairman Gujba Local government, Alhaji Kyari Batrema called on humanitarian agencies to stretch their intervention to every nook and crany of the local government especially the eastern part of the council where he said are gradually returning due to improved security in the areas.

    He called on his people to always give humanitarian workers and the security operatives the needed cooperation to succeed in their job.

    The Yobe State Head Office of UNHCR, Mr. Gabriel Idoko expressed his gratitude over the cooperation of the State Government in providing a good platform for a better coordinating of humanitarian activities in the state.

    He noted that, UNHCR will continue to partner with the state government in most desirable areas of intervention for victims of Boko Haram insurgency.

    Mr. Idoko explained that the Shelter Kits Intervention Programme is designed to help the displaced people return to their communities in a more dignified manner.

    “What UNHCR is doing here today is to help these people who were displaced by the Boko Haram crisis to return to their communities in a more dignified way.

    “As you can see, most of the beneficiaries here had their houses destroyed and we believe with a shelter on your head, you can think better. Shelter is an important aspect, of recovery from this crisis,” Mr. Idoko explained.

    As a way of discouraging the beneficiaries from selling the items, Mr. Idoko disclosed that, each beneficiary is provided with a cash of N30, 000 to assist them pay for labour and other family needs.

    He disclosed that a total of 500 house, 300 from Gujba and 200 from Gulani were selected to benefit from the programme.

    Each household, according to him will receive 4 bags of cement; two bundles of zinc roofing sheets; different roofing rafters, roofing and timber nails among building materials.

    Head of External Relations/Public Information   UNHCR, Mr. Hanson Ghandi Tamfu said “this intervention is strategic because to us at the United Nations, assisting the displaced people to rebuild their shelter will allow them settle down and begin to fashion out other ingenuous means of their survival”.

    On his part, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Alhaji Idi Jidawa called on the benefiacies not to sale the items but rather use them for the purpose they were meant.

    The Yobe State SEMA boss while emphasising the plea of the deputy Gov called on donor agencies to look more into donations materials that will impact directly on the resettlement of the people as they return to their communities.

  • 6,000 displaced in Gbagys-herdsmen clash in Niger

    6,000 displaced in Gbagys-herdsmen clash in Niger

    At least 6,000 people were displaced in the communal clash between the Gbagys and Fulani herdsmen in Rafin Baruna, in Bosso local government area of Niger State.

    Four people were reportedly killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed on January 10.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Inga, Director-General of the state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) told newsmen on Friday that the clash had displaced over 6,000 people already.

    Inga said the displaced persons were seeking shelter in Nomadic School in Sabon Gada while others escaped to the neighbouring communities for safety.

    “On Tuesday, four persons were killed, during the Thursday night attack, two people were also killed. Others are receiving treatment in the camp.

    “Relief materials have been given to the IDPs to assist them to cushion the effect of the crisis.

    “It is unfortunate that people are no longer patient with one another. As you can see, the communities are empty, people have left their homes out of fear,” he said.

    He said that security agencies were in the affected communities to ensure the safety of lives and property.

    Inga called on the traditional rulers and community leaders in the state to sensitise the people on the importance of peaceful coexistence.

    NAN reports that Maj.-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigeria Army, Kaduna, visited the affected communities to access the level of the clash.

    The Commissioner of Police in Niger, Alhaji Muazu Zubairu, also visited the communities to ensure normalcy in the areas.

    Malam Danlami Aliyu, a victim of the clash, told newsmen that “ all the farmer produce and houses were burnt down.

    “As you, all can see, all our yams, maize, millet and other property worth millions of naira have been burnt down.

    “All the women and children have run away only some few men are left in the left community.

    “We thank the security men for coming to our rescue and we called on the government to assist us because we have lost food and shelter to the clash,” he said.

  • Flood wreaks havoc in Bauchi State

    Flood wreaks havoc in Bauchi State

    No fewer than 12 persons have been confirmed dead while valuable property were destroyed by flood, which ravaged parts of Ganjuwa and Giade Local Government Areas of Bauchi State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred in the remote areas of the two councils late on Sunday, following a downpour.

    It was learnt that eight persons died at Gulbuk in Giade council area while the remaining four deaths were recorded in Gala-Makera and Galam Baba villages in Ganjuwa council.

    A source said that the corpses of the deceased including children were recovered by some good Samaritans in various locations in the affected areas.

    Alhaji Aliyu Ahmad, Permanent Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), told reporters on Tuesday in Bauchi that a team of experts from the agency had visited the affected areas.

    Ahmad said that the team was still in the areas to assess the level of damage and assured that details would be made available to newsmen later.

  • Fed Govt donates N250m to Kebbi flood victims

    The Federal Government has donated N250 million to victims of the flood that ravaged several communities in the state.

    Presenting the money on behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Yusuf Yuguda, told the government and residents of Kebbi State that President Good Luck Jonathan sympathised with them over the flood occasioned by the torrential rainfall that led to the collapse of houses in which two people lost their lives and a lot of property destroyed.

    He assured them that the fund raising committee set up by the Federal Government to assist flood victims across the country would do a good job. He, therefore, urged well-to-do Nigerians to join hands with this committee to help the victims.

    The minister urged all states of the federation to strengthen the activities of their State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), adding that the body is doing a good job.

    In his speech ,the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim K. Aliyu who stood in for the governor, expressed appreciation for the gesture. He pointed out that the minister’s visit had further confirmed the genuine efforts of the Federal Government to providing succour for the victims.

    The deputy governor stated that though there was no much flood from water ways but a torrential rainfall in the month of August wreaked havoc in which an aged woman and a young man lost their lives.

    He disclosed that N5 billion worth of property including animals and farm lands were washed away. He called on wealthy Nigerians to help victims across the country.