The Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello has pledged the support of the FCT Administration, towards improving the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Territory.
Mallam Bello made the pledge when he received a delegation from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, led by its Minister, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, on a courtesy visit to the FCTA.
He implored the Humanitarian Affairs Minister to take advantage of training facilities owned by the FCTA to train IDPs on various skills needed to empower them economically.
He also recommended a partnership with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, to ensure the strengthening of FCTA owned facilities, so that they serve as models that can be replicated in other States of the Federation.
The FCT Minister disclosed that the FCT has schools that cater for children with special needs, a Training Centre to train many of the IDPs in meaningful skills in order to help them have a meaningful life wherever they are settled, the Bwari Centre where people that are picked from the street, particularly orphans and those who have no means of livelihood, are trained.
According to him, the services rendered in these Centers fall under the purview of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, he therefore advised that there was need to invest in new institutions and facilities, as these Centers had been functional for quite some time and are managed by the Social Development Secretariat.
To this end, Mallam Bello therefore directed the setting up of a Joint Committee comprising members from both Ministries to be supervised by the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, to work out modalities for the partnership, adding that it was the least they could do for the IDPs.
Earlier, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq had solicited the support of the FCTA for the improved welfare of IDPs in terms of rehabilitation of the settlements so that they can have befitting living environment in terms of water, health and education.
She said her Ministry has a record of over 26,726 IDPs spread across camps in the FCT, explaining that although some of them have skills, they still need to be encouraged to improve themselves as well as contribute to the economy of the Territory.
Abdullahi Musa
Information Officer
For: Head of Center
