ABUJA (Min of Niger Delta Affairs Report) – The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is set to partner with National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons on the provisions of sustainable support to displaced and vulnerable persons in the country.
The Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, disclosed this when the Commissioner of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed and his Management Staff paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Monday 25th November, 2019.
Senator Akpabio noted that one of the major challenges confronting the Niger Delta region is the ecological impact of gas flaring. He said that the Federal Government have not reinforced the relevant laws to stop gas flaring by Multinational Oil Companies operating in the region.
According to him, the Ministry is committed to redirecting the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) as an interventionist Agency back to his mandate. He pledged that the Ministry and the NDDC will give total support to the Commission to execute its humanitarian services and provide durable solutions to concerned persons all over the country.
He charged the Chief Executive of the Commission to liaise with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and meet with the Ambassadors of those Countries repatriating Nigerians for economic reasons to ensure that there is peace and understanding between the citizens and the government.
The National Commissioner of the Commission, Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed, who spoke earlier, said that Nigeria is facing humanitarian challenges and the Commission is seeking for mutual cooperation and partnership with all the stakeholders in giving psychological and physical support to all vulnerable Nigerians.
He said there are about 2.2 million internally displaced persons in the country majorly in the North East, and about 44,000 refugees’ majorly in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States of the Niger Delta Region.
The Commissioner stated that in year 2020, the Commission intends to move away from giving hand outs to persons of concerns and provide more durable and sustainable support that will integrate them back into the society.
Sen. Mohammed lamented on the meager budgetary allocation which according to him is grossly inadequate to meet with the needs of the commission hence the need for this partnership to provide skill development, empowerment and to ensure that displaced persons are adequately resettled.
He also stressed on the need to sensitize the Communities and the Youths on the dangers of irregular migration.
Deworitshe Patricia
Head, Press and Public Relations unit
