FG Working On Safe Resettlement Of IDPs, Others, Matawalle Assures UN

The Minister of State for Defence, His Excellency, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle MON, has assured the Representative of the United Nations that the Federal Government is working out modalities to resettle returnees and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria to a safe and better living condition. The Minister gave this assurance when the Representative of United Nations Mines Action Services paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday, 24th October 2023 in Ship House Abuja.  Matawalle said that Federal Government would partner with UNMAS in working out a workable solution in reintegrating IDPs and farmers into society for better life. “We need to redesign action plan for the IDP returnees and farmers to go back to their farms,” he said.  According to him there was the need for Federal Government to provide essential technical support for the establishment of a national mine action centre in the North East and extend it to North West where incidence of insurgency has increased. “Such centre will afford the IDPs the opportunity to return to their Communities and have access to quality education.” The representative of the United Nations Mines Action Services to Nigeria, Edwin Faigmane, said that the UNMAS is to collaborate with the Nigerian Army to secure success for Mines Action Services Operations in Nigeria.  Furthermore, he stated that there was need to conduct Technical Surveys to identify hazardous areas that need to be safe before any other activities could take place. Edwin commended the Minister for the audience and requested that they count on Government’s support in identifying areas of collaboration.

Flood: NEMA Distributes Relief Materials To Households In Enugu

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced the distribution of relief materials to 10,040 households affected by the 2022 flood disaster in Enugu State. The Director-General (DG) of the agency, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, said during the distribution in Enugu that the gesture was under the Special National Economic and Livelihood Emergency Intervention (SNELEI). Ahmed, who was represented by the Enugu State team supervisor of SNELEI, Mr Ladan Ayuba, said that the distribution was to improve the socio-economic conditions of the affected households in the state. He identified the items as livelihood equipment which included sewing machines and grinding machines while the food items include rice, beans, garri, sorghum, vegetable oil, salt, tomato paste sachets and seasoning cubes. According to him, the non-food items are mosquito nets, nylon mats, blankets, form mattresses, set of cooking pots, cooking stoves, toilet soaps and detergents. The agricultural inputs also distributed, included water pumps 3HP, growth enhancers, liquid fertilizers, pesticide, herbicide, yam seeds, rice seeds and maize seeds. He explained that the agricultural inputs were given to take farmers back to their farm lands, to stimulate crop production, and safeguard national food security in the middle of economic downturn. The DG added that the livelihood support was to help artisans improve their businesses and grow the economy. He urged the beneficiaries to make proper use of the items to improve their socio-economic conditions. “Beneficiaries are advised to avoid selling the items and destroying the good intention of the Federal Government,” he said. Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, lauded NEMA for its support to the state. “We want to extend our gratitude to the DG, NEMA, for always partnering with the state in times of emergency. “It is important that we acknowledge that President Bola Tinubu has made commitment to continue to support the states that are going through flood- related matter through NEMA,” he said. Some beneficiaries expressed their joy for the items they received.