In continuation of his nation-wide distribution of palliatives to Persons of Concern, Honourable Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed delivered food and non -food items to displaced persons in Kogi State at the weekend.
Senator Basheer flagging- off the distribution exercise at Anyigba in Dekina Local Government Council of the state said it was at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari who directed the Commission and indeed all agencies in the humanitarian ecosystem to intensify support to vulnerable population in the country.
“We are here today to distribute commodities to the IDPs in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR who has charged all government agencies in the humanitarian ecosystem to intensify support to vulnerable populations in these difficult times”, he said
According to him, Kogi State has 118,199 IDPs spread across various areas, namely within Kotonkarfe and Abejukolo IDPs camps as well as Bassa, Igalamela, and Ibaja. He noted with sadness issue of flooding which is a major cause of displacements in the state.
“Given our mandate, the Commission therefore is very much aware of the crises that have rocked Kogi State and the unfortunate yet seasonal rise in displaced persons due to heavy rains and rising water levels in the nearby River Niger”
Items distributed were bags of 50kg stone free rice, bags of 100kg beans, grinded maize, millet, red oil, salt, tomato paste and maggi. As well as non-food items such as mats, blankets, detergents, bathing soap, slippers, buckets, Vaseline, branded ceramic plates, cups, spoons, cooking pots and branded energy saving stoves and we will also hand over basic drugs and medical items to the State for the benefit of our IDPs.
Senator Basheer commiserated with Kogi State government for the lives lost, even as he said that the Commission can collaboratively strategize with the state to ensure that more sustainable solutions are implemented in camps and in flood prone areas within the State so that displaced persons in Kogi can live their lives of dignity and have accesses to basic amenities.
Earlier, the Commissioner had paid courtesy visit at the Kogi State government house, where he briefed the Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja on why the team was in the state.
“Since my appointment by Mr. President, I have embarked on an aspiring task. And with President Buhari’s blessing we will build the first NCFRMI Resettlement City Development Project in several States and aim to relocate our countries 2.4 million displaced persons within the country.
This does not mean we will stop emergency and protection based interventions. By definition of our mandate, we will continue to support the State in providing care and maintenance services as well as special interventions as the needs arise” he said
The Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja, said the state was willing to go into discussions towards strategizing on how best to resettle and reintegrate the displaced within Kogi as top priority.
Before the items were distributed, Senator Basheer inspected the items in the ware house and confirmed them to be of good quality. H also demonstrated hand washing to the beneficiaries after the exercise.
ABDUL .A ONU
Head: Press & PR
15/05/2020
