… Says Humanitarian Minister

…Unveils Renewed Hope Agric Empowerment Project, distribution of relief items for IDPs in Borno

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to partner with Borno State Government to ensure the dignified repatriation of all people who were displaced by activities of Boko Haram terrorists, and currently taking refuge in Cameroon, Niger and Chad Republic.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nantawe Goshewe Yilwatda when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Babagana Zulum yesterday bvin Maiduguri.

This is as the Minister flagged off the beans harvest of ‘The Renewed Hope Agric Empowerment Project for Internally Displaced Persons’, (RHAEPIDPs) and other victims of flood disaster in Sabon Gari Community of Baale Galtimari Ward, Jere local government area of the state.

He also unveiled the distribution of relief items donated by NCFRMI in collaboration with the federal government to hundreds of Displaced Heads of Household, now resettled in Amarwa community of Konduga local government area and Madinatu camp in Jere local government area.

While at the Government House, Professor Yilwatda who was accompanied by the Federal Commissioner NCFRMI, Mallam Tijjani Ahmed, Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding Programme, Dr. Yetunde Adeniji among other dignitaries said, Borno is his first point of call since he was appointed and sworn in two weeks ago as Minister, for ‘On-The -Spot Assessment’, after which, Borno should be mainstreamed in developing the Humanitarian Master Plan (HMP) for Nigeria and Nigerians, which would be unveiled in January 2025.

The Minister then commiserated with the Government and people of the state over the humanitarian crisis posed by insurgents, and recently, flood disaster which has claimed many lives, displaced millions of residents in Maiduguri, the state capital, with critical infrastructures destroyed.

He commended Governor Zulum and the people of the state for their resilience, even as he pledged that his Ministry, with support from President Tinubu will offer needed support for all victims of man-made and natural disasters have means of livelihood with durable solutions.

His words: “I am here in Borno as my first official assignment/visit for ‘On-The -Spot Assessment’. I assured you that the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in collaboration with National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security are to partner with Borno State Government to ensure dignified repatriation of all people who were displaced by activities of Boko Haram terrorists currently taking refuge in Cameroon, Niger and Chad Republic.

” Under the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of Mr. President I want to assure that Borno should be mainstreamed in developing the Humanitarian Master Plan (HMP) for Nigeria and Nigerians, which would be unveiled in January 2025.

“I want to use this opportunity to commiserate with the Government and people of the state over the humanitarian crisis posed by insurgents, and recently, the flood disaster which has claimed many lives, displaced millions of residents in Maiduguri, the state capital, with critical infrastructures destroyed.

“I also commend Governor Zulum and the people of the state for their resilience, even as I pledged that my Ministry, with support from President Tinubu will offer needed support for all victims of man-made and natural disasters to have means of livelihood with durable solutions”. Professor Yilwatda said.

Responding, Governor Zulum who described the Minister’s visit as a ‘Home Coming’, having spent his early years in Borno, also congratulated Professor Yilwatda for his deserved appointment.

He lamented that keeping or managing IDPs and repentant members of Boko Haram terrorists in camps have been very challenging to the State Government, and that, allowing them to stay in camps are no longer sustainable, as United Nations and most of the International Non-Governmental Organizations who have been very supportive and complementing efforts of the government at all levels, don’t have enough resources to do so.

Zulum said, having been a member of the Humanitarian Respond Team/Plan from 2015 to 2019, will work together with United Nations and other development partners in order to contribute for the development of the Humanitarian Master Plan (HMP).

The Minster also took time and visited Federal Government’s 150 hectares of beans Farms allocated to resilient people of Modu Kawuri communities, after which, he unveiled beans harvest under the RHAEPIDPs for hundreds of beneficiaries.

He also announced donations of N20,000 token for all the farmers, and enjoined them to support the present administration which is poised to give more Agric interventions for peasant farmers in the next cropping season.

In a related development, the Federal Commissioner of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Tijjani Ahmed conducted the Minister round communities of Amarwa and Madinatu camps, where Professor Yilwatda presided over distribution of food and non -food items to hundreds of heads of household who were displaced.

The Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI said, the Commission has constructed hundreds of housing estates and handed over people of Amarwa who were displaced by insurgents.

The Minister while interacting with the IDPs, informed them that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through his ministry will continue to give succour and alleviate their economic hardships in no distant time.