In affirmation of continuous supports to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), the Federal Government at the weekend distributed assorted relief assistance to the IDPs from Chibok and Askira/Uba of Borno State that are presently in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Flagging off the relief distribution in Kuje, a satellite town in the FCT, Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala affirmed the commitment of the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to support the displaced persons while expediting efforts towards the restoration of security in their communities to enable them return home soonest.
The Minister who was accompanied by the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Muhammad Sani Sidi said government was also concerned about the education of children affected by the security challenge in the North east therefore has concluded arrangement to move some of them to various Unity Schools in the country under its Safe School Initiative.
She assured the IDPs from Chibok of continual humanitarian supports of the Federal Government through NEMA, noting that other displaced persons including those living in the FCT are already benefitting from similar gesture.
Responding on behalf of the IDPs, Spokesperson of Chibok community in the FCT Mr Gapani Yagana appreciated the Federal Government for the continued supports given to them.
The distribution of relief to the displaced persons from Mousa community of Askira/Uba Local Government of Borno State was done in Orozo, a suburb of Abuja where they had assembled and the National Emergency Management Agency delivered the government supports to them. The Director General of NEMA Muhammad Sani Sidi who was represented by the Abuja Operations Coordinator of the Agency Ishaya Isa Chonoko advised them to remain law abiding and also assure the concern of the Federal Government to their plights.
The items distributed to the IDPs were food and non-food items including bags of rice, grains, sleeping materials, clothing and sanitary items.
Speaking on the IDPs in the FCT, Chonko said though they were not living in any formal camp but with friends and relations, NEMA has been distributing supports to them upon their discoveries and requests for assistance.
It will recall that many of the IDPs affected by the security challenge in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States are presently living in various camps in Yola and Maiduguri. Although, most of them are also living with relations and friends in host communities. The Federal Government through NEMA has been responding to their plights in the continuous deployment of relief supports that are distributed to them.
Manzo Ezekiel
Press Officer
15th February 2015
