The Federal Government has distributed relief items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Chibok and Askira/Uba in Borno who are presently living in the Federal Capital Territory. This is contained in a statement by Mr Manzo Ezekiel, the Press Officer, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Sunday in Abuja.

The statement said the inauguration of the distribution of the items to the Chibok IDPs in Kuje was performed at the weekend by Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Finance Minister. It said the minister, who was accompanied by Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, the NEMA Director-General, affirmed the continuous support of government to the displaced persons.

The statement said the minister reiterated the commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan to supporting the IDPs in the country. It quoted Okonjo-Iweala as saying government was making efforts to restore peace and security in the affected communities to enable the displaced persons return home.

“Government is concerned about the education of the children who have been affected by the security challenges in the North-East. Arrangements are being made for the children to continue schooling,’’ the minister said. The statement also quoted her as saying government had concluded plans to move some of the displaced children to various Unity Schools in the country under its Safe School Initiative.

It said the Minister assured the IDPs from Chibok of continued humanitarian support from the Federal Government and NEMA, such as other IDPs in the FCT have been benefiting. Responding on behalf of the IDPs, Mr Gapani Yagana, spokesperson of the Chibok Community in the FCT, lauded the Federal Government for the continued support given to them.

In a similar note, distribution of relief items to IDPs from Mousa Community of Askira/Uba Local Government, Borno was done in Orozo, a suburb of Abuja, where the IDPs had assembled. The statement said the NEMA DG was represented by Mr Ishaya Chonoko, the agency’s Abuja Operations Co-ordinator, who advised the displaced persons to remain law-abiding.

Sani-Sidi assured them that government was concerned about their plight and NEMA would continue to support and meet their needs. Items distributed to the IDPs were food and non-food items, including bags of rice, grains, sleeping materials, clothing and sanitary items.