IDPs - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Philip Daniel Yatai
Mar, Sat, 2025

FG relocates IDPs, refugees to Keffi resettlement city

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By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The Federal Government has moved about 40 households of displaced persons/refugees to a resettlement city in Keffi for decent accommodation and better living.

Speaking at the occasion, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), said that no fewer than 300 individuals would benefit from the allocation.

Ahmed said that the selection criteria for beneficiaries were based on voluntary participation and profiling, ensuring that those who chose to stay were allocated houses.

He also said that plans were in place to reintegrate IDPs and refugees into the immediate community, adding that the organisation had a trade skill centre to ensure their livelihood.

He further said that arrangements had been made with security agencies and health care development agencies to provide protection and assistance to the refugees.

Ahmed thanked President Bola Tinubu for his efforts in ensuring the welfare and well-being of the less-privileged and displaced persons in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the facilities and infrastructure in the centre included a recreational area, mosques and churches to promote religious ethics among the residents.

“Green houses are provided for farming and a market is set up to facilitate the sale of excess farm produce,” Ahmed stated.

Mr Earnest Cho, a Camerounian refugee, while appreciating the government for the kind gesture, expressed excitement of living in a free accommodation and farming community compared to the expensive city life in Abuja.

Cho, who is also the leader of the refugees, said although the centre had solar-power lights, the government should also provide them with electricity for better living conditions. (NAN)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Ismail Abdulaziz
Dec, Sat, 2024

General News

Advocacy group assesses IDPs education in Niger

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By Rita Iliya

High Level Women Advocacy (HiLWA) in Saturday visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Niger to assess the living conditions and education of the girl-child.

President of HiLWA in Niger, Hajiya Hassana Adamu, led a delegation to the IDPs camp at Central Primary School, Gwada, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that HILWA is a non-governmental organisation that sensitise rural communities on the importance of girl-child education.

Adamu explained that the visit was to assess the living standards and education of out-of-school children, particularly the female ones.

She said that HiLWA’s focused on promoting girl-child education, adding that the organisation was concerned about the lack of guidance and counselling for the girls.

She observed that the girls in the IDPs camp were not exposed to the importance of education, adding that HILWA would take the issue up with the state chairman of Universal Basic Education.

“Although we sensitised the girls on the benefits of education, there is need for alternative location for the IDPs instead of the school premises,” she said.

She added that the organisation also plans to advocate for the provision of guidance and counselling officers to educate the girls on the importance of education.

The Head Mistress of Central Primary School, Gwada, Mrs Justina Barde, said that the IDPs presence in the school premises was affecting the education of pupils.

She also highlighted the accommodation challenges, stating that six families, including males and females, live in a single classroom, posing a danger to the female children.

Some of the girls who spoke, Rita Iliya and Jennifer Nehemiah, expressed their desire to become a medical doctor and a tailor respectively, in spite of their irregular attendance at school.

NAN reports that the organisation presented items, including cartons of biscuits, detergents, soap, and bags of pure water, to the IDPs.

NAN also reports that the delegation includes female permanent secretaries, officials from the Adolescent Girls’ Child Education (AGILE) and the Niger state Child Rights Agency.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Peter Amine
Nov, Thu, 2024

General News

SEMA, BSUTH sign MoU on IDPs treatment

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By Peter Amine
The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the treatment of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

The MoU was signed by the SEMA Executive Secretary, Sir James Iorpuu, and BSUTH Chief Medical Director, Dr Stephen Hwande, on Thursday in Makurdi.

Speaking at the event, Iorpuu said that the partnership marked a significant milestone in collective efforts to alleviate the sufferings of IDPs in Benue and to ensure their access to essential and quality healthcare services.

The executive secretary stated that the plight of Benue citizens in IDP camps across local governments was one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges.

“These vulnerable populations face numerous difficulties, with access to healthcare being one of the most critical.

“Many IDPs are unable to access the medical attention they urgently need due to financial constraints and logistical barriers.

“It is in recognition of this need that Benue SEMA has sought this collaboration with BSUTH, an institution renowned for its excellence in medical care and service delivery.

“Through this agreement, IDPs in the 10 designated camps will now have the opportunity to receive timely and quality healthcare services at BSUTH, with the assurance that SEMA will settle the bills at a later date.

“This initiative is not just a demonstration of our commitment to the welfare of displaced persons; it is also a testament to the importance of partnerships in addressing the complexities of humanitarian crises,” he added.

He further said that the agency was leveraging the expertise and resources of BSUTH and the coordination capabilities of SEMA to set a precedent on how institutions can work together for the betterment of society.

Iorpuu added that they would ensure that the agreement was implemented effectively and transparently.

He said both SEMA and BSUTH must remain accountable to the people, ensuring that the initiative achieved its intended impact.

Hwande, in his remarks, lauded SEMA for initiating the partnership that would be beneficial to the vulnerable population in the state.

“What SEMA is doing is landmark because such services were left in the hands of the Red Cross and other international organisations.

“For the first time, SEMA is saying that I will take responsibility for treating IDPs.

“It costs a lot of money to treat these IDPs; one lassa fever case sometimes takes close to one million Naira.

“We have resolved that we will give some discounts; if the cases are very expensive, we will give a higher discount. The discount will be based on the case,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)