Politics

FG making efforts to ensure return of Niger IDPs to their homes — Shettima

Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has assured the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Niger State that the Federal Government is making frantic efforts to ensure that they return to their respective villages in parts of the State.

The Vice President gave the assurance when he led a Federal Government delegation on a sympathy and on-the-spot assessment visit to the IDP camp at the Central Primary School, Gwada, Shiroro Local Government Area of the State on Friday.

Senator Shettima, who noted that the Federal Government was aware of their situation, reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration at the Centre to providing good governance that will ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

The Vice President, who emphasised that the country has been affected by insecurity challenges and natural disasters, like floods and rainstorms which have led to loss of lives and properties, disclosed that Federal Government has given N3 billion to each State of the Federation to address issues of floodings.

Shettima said, “Apart from the food items and other non-consumable items presented to the IDPs, the Federal Government will further synergise with the State Government and NEMA to alleviate the sufferings of the people”.

He added that States like Borno, Niger, Sokoto, Bayelsa, and Jigawa among others, will receive more interventions from the Federal government as it continues to carryout its assessment.

Earlier, the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago disclosed that the State has been seriously impacted by insecurity and natural disasters leading to the creation of 14 IDP camps spread across the State.

He appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sending a high-powered delegation, led by the Vice President, to sympathise with the government and people of the State.

The Governor explained that the visit and the intervention underscored the commitment of the Federal government in addressing challenges confronting the people.

In an interview, on the sidelines of the Vice President’s one-day official visit to the State, the Hon. Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Suleiman (rtd) and the Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Hon. Abdullahi Baba-Arah commended the intervention from the Federal government through NEMA and promised to continue to partner with them for the wellbeing of the IDPs while efforts were being made for their safe return.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Shiroro Local Government Council, Malam Akilu Isiyaku Kuta said he was prepared to provide every support that would ensure that the people were back to their ancestral homes.

Meanwhile, some IDPs interviewed, called on government at all levels to do everything humanly possible within their powers for them to go back to their respective ancestral homes across the State.

A total of 46,853 IDPs comprising Men, Women, and Children were in Niger State across 14 IDP camps, out of which 5,823 were at the Gwada camp in Shiroro Local Government Area of the State.

The Minister for Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, Minister for State, Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abdullahi Sabi, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia and the Director General of NEMA, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, Kwara State Governor, and chairman, Nigeria’s Governors Forum, Alhaji Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq were among the entourage of the Vice President.

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