Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has disclosed that the federal government has approved N10 billion for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of all the destroyed communities by herdsmen in Benue State. Professor Osinbajo made the disclosure during a visit to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps at Abagena and Daudu where over 60,000 IDPs were currently taking shelter. The vice president who reiterated federal government’s readiness to ensure that all homes are safe for the IDPs to go back and farm by providing adequate security personnel at the flash points areas also promised to support and assist both farmers and business people to start life again. “The federal government is poise to ensure that all your homes are secure through the deployment of more securities, rebuilding and rehabilitation of all IDPs as well as the education of the affected children”, he added. He revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed him to ensure that all these things are done as soon as possible to ensure “your going back to your communities”. The vice president while addressing the IDPs especially little children urged them to have hope and confidence as Nigerians, adding that nobody is doing them a favour because as Nigerians they have a right to life, security, education, health among others. He enjoined them to form cooperative societies to enable them access the federal government loans, which is earmarked for artisans, and anchor borrowers programme for farmers. “I want to assure all of you that, the sufferings and trauma you have been through will soon be over, and my coming here is the beginning of good things in your lives,” he added. In a welcome address, the executive secretary of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Emmanuel Shior who commended the federal government for the steps taken so far, however decried the failure of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to support the state in addressing the humanitarian crises that engulfed the state as it ought to. Shior disclosed that over 175,700 IDPs are currently taking shelter in eight camps in Makurdi, Guma and Logo local governments of the state which have overwhelmed the state government, saying that the vice president’s visit will bring peace and stability in the state. Some of the children at the IDPs who spoke to our correspondent including Jeremiah Bem, Angela Igbe and Joy Adamu expressed hope that with the visit of the vice president, they will be able to go back to their communities and continue with their education. Governor Samuel Ortom, who commended the federal government for deploying more security personnel to the state as well as sending a committee which spent 17 days in the state to assess the magnitude of damage caused by the herdsmen killings and report back, re-echoed that the IDPs are with one voice that they want to go back home and farm now that the rains are here.
No comments:
Post a Comment