FG distributes food items to 100 IDPs in Kwara

The Federal Government, on Sunday, distributed food items to no fewer than 100 internally displaced persons in Kwara State

The Informant247 gathered that the food items, which include Rice, Garri, Semo, spaghetti, vegetable oil and salt, were flagged off at the Federal Secretariat Ilorin.

In a statement by Hassan Jibril, the Press Secretary, Kwara State, Ministry of Special Duties, said the Federal Commissioner National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Tijani Aliyu Ahmed stated the federal government is concerned about the plights of the internally displaced persons and spare no effort to assuage their sufferings.

The statement reads, “What we are doing here is in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has equally supported us that something meaningful is done to assuage the assistance of displaced persons.

“Today’s event is an important occasion, and we have come here because we have the mandate to ensure that we have durable solutions for people of concern,” Ahmed explained.

Represented by the Deputy Director of Communications and Strategy of the commission, Tunde Oyasanya, the Federal Commissioner urged the beneficiaries not to sell the items to serve the intended purpose.

“The commission has committed a huge sum to purchase these items and support you. We beg you not to sell them. This is just one of our programmes, and very soon, we will go into a livelihood programme to empower each of you. We do not need to be bringing food items to you. We are interested in what you can do for yourselves and make money.”

Ahmed applauded the Kwara State Government for its resilience and commitment to the welfare of the people, urging the public not to stigmatise the victims.

For his part, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties John Bello, described the IDP issue as a challenge to governments at all levels, saying the administration is committed to alleviating challenges facing the internally displaced persons and other vulnerable members of the society.

“The issue of IDPs is a severe challenge to the government and the society at large. So, the government is trying to ease the suffering of the affected persons at all levels.

“The moment you are displaced or migrated from one place to the other, you won’t settle down well, and you are likely to stretch existing facilities in your new place, and that will affect the society and, by extension, the government,” AbdulRazaq said.

Also speaking, the Zonal Coordinator of the North Central National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Bashir Abuga Yusuf, lamented the increasing rate of internally displaced persons in Nigeria, which he attributed to natural and human factors.

“The increase and spread of internally displaced persons in Nigeria is at an alarming rate, which is resulted from factors such as violent conflict, natural hazard and human factors like banditry. However, internally displaced persons are faced with different challenges and more at risk of physical attack, sexual exploitation and adoption and frequently deprived of adequate shelter, food and health services.”

“The federal government is not the only entity to display service to humanity. But all individuals should also partner with the government to make life worth living for everyone,” Zonal Coordinator appealed.