Persons displaced by Boko Haram
insurgency in the North-East and living in Internally Displaced Persons’
camps in the Federal Capital Territory, may not return to their
ancestral homes again, going by the plans of the Federal Government.
The government is applying for land in the FCT to resettle them permanently.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs,
Disaster Management and Social Development, Mrs Sadiya Umar-Farouk,
disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday.
She spoke shortly after the President,
Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), inaugurated the National
Humanitarian Coordination Committee to assist the ministry in delivering
humanitarian services.
She claimed that the Abuja IDPs had lived there for years and might not want to return to their homes. Umar-Farouk added that the government would not force them if they were unwilling to go back home.
She said, “Just a few weeks ago, I
visited the Minister of FCT and he has assured us that he is going to
give us land where we will really resettle these people.
“Don’t forget that these people have
been there for a very long time. Some of them might never go back to
their communities and you can’t force them. That’s why we are looking at
how we are going to get land for them to really put structures and
resettle them; we are doing that.”
The minister was responding to questions
on the hygiene situation in some of the camps, especially in the wake
of the outbreak of coronavirus.
“Of course, coronavirus has negative
impact on all populations, including our IDPs and the ministry is taking
measures to see how we can sensitise these displaced communities in the
camps as well as to supply them with all the medical needs to mitigate
this virus.
“I am sure you know that a presidential
task force has been constituted by Mr President and the ministry is a
member. We are working day and night on how to take all the measures to
prevent the impact of the virus in our country,” Umar-Farouk added.
Speaking while inaugurating the
committee, Buhari asked the military to intensify efforts to end Boko
Haram insurgency, adding that peace must return to the North-East.
He also said his regime would ensure that communities destroyed by the insurgents were rehabilitated.
“As a result of the mindless actions of
the terrorists, many of our compatriots have been killed, maimed, or
displaced from their communities. This necessitated the efforts of this
administration to develop immediate interventions and measures to
alleviate the sufferings of those affected, and to ensure their proper
resettlement,” his media aide, Mr Femi Adesina, quoted him as telling
the committee members.
On why he established the new ministry
in 2019, Buhari said, “Because, what we receive from NGOs sometimes does
not permeate, does not go down to the people there…So I got documents
from intellectuals so that we could set up a ministry that will
coordinate the activities of NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency)
and others, so that the resources can be properly accounted for.
“This is the reason the ministry was set
up so that the minister will account to the Federal Executive Council
and make sure that the resources are properly utilised.”
Buhari lauded local and international partners for their assistance over time, assuring them of continued government commitment.
“I commend the support of our friends
and partners who have over the years provided humanitarian assistance to
our people in need. At the same time, I also seek their understanding
in situations where our sovereignty and national security require more
pragmatic and proper consideration.
“This government will continue to evolve
ways of ensuring that all humanitarian actors receive the necessary
support to carry out their activities safely, in line with established
principles and taking cognisance of our national security imperatives,”
he added.
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