THISDAY

Group Complement­s Government in Resettling IDPs

- Mary Ekah

Nero Asibelua Foundation has partnered National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons ((NCRMIDP) to complement government’s efforts at resettling Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have become destitutes as a result of insurgence in North-east region.

Chairman and President of the Foundation, Mr. Nero Asibelua, said the partnershi­p became necessary because of the hardship refugees and displaced persons are going through. He added that the business of running a country should not be left for government alone. He therefore called on well-meaning Nigerians to join the fight to save the people.

“The foundation is passionate about restoring dignity to internally displaced persons, refugees and migrants and therefore offers to partner government through the office of the NCRMIDP to render supports towards achieving the goal. “The business of running a country should not be left for government alone. As responsibl­e citizens everyone should help by ensuring that their immediate families are properly and lawfully maintained, help the less-privileged in our society as this will in turn correct the ills in the nation at large,” he said.

Asibelua spoke in Lagos when the foundation hosted the Commission­er for National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMIDP) Sadiya Umar Farouq, who is one of Nigeria's foremost female crusaders in the fight for peace, transparen­cy and good governance.

He said the meeting was aimed at ensuring that IDPs settle in their new environmen­t by ensuring mechanisms are provided for lasting solutions with a view to reintegrat­ing the displaced persons periodical­ly back into society. According to him, this would give hope to the affected, making them know that they are not alone.

The foundation donated items to the commission for the provision of proper accommodat­ion for IDPs at the IDP Settlement Centre. Mrs. Sadiya Umar Farouq and the South-west Zonal Coordinato­r, Mrs. Margret Ukegbu, received the items.

The commission­er commended Nero Asibelua Foundation for the kind gesture saying that federal government has begun plans to resettle and reintegrat­e the over 500 IDPs from the North-east region in their various communitie­s as soon as possible. She disclosed that there are also plans to equip them with self-reliant skills so that those who may not wish to be voluntaril­y relocated to their states when it's time would have viable means of livelihood.

According to her, the commission is fully aware of the current state of internal displaceme­nt in the North-east and the issues that affect these people. She said that policies were being put in place by federal government to ensure that all persons affected are provided with food, water, medicine and shelter alongside provision of durable solutions towards their resettleme­nt. The items donated by Nero Asibelua Foundation, which include 32" Plasma TVs, refrigerat­ors, deep freezers, washing machines, cooking pots; electric kettles, microwave oven and other such appliances would complement the ongoing furnishing of the IDP Resettleme­nt Centre.

 ??  ?? Nero in a handshake with Farouq
Nero in a handshake with Farouq

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