Over 23,000 bags of assorted food items and 2,155 bags of shelter
supplies have been provided by different Federal Government agencies to
Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) in the North East as part of on-going
initiatives at ameliorating the plight of IDPs in areas ravaged by
insurgency.
Under
the coordinated Federal intervention programme, both the Presidential
Initiative on North East (PINE) and National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA), are leading the humanitarian aid with the distribution of 10,
300 bags of assorted grains and cereals towards the feeding of over 2
million persons scattered across the region.
In the monthly Federal Intervention Report that shows the level of
supplies in the month of July and compiled by the Senior Special
Assistant to the President on the North East, Dr. Mariam Masha, PINE
supplied over 10,300 bags of food items such as rice, millet, maize,
guinea corn, salt, vegetable oil, beans, and noodles to Borno, Yobe,
Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi States. Besides, NEMA also supplied
Borno State with 13,200 bags of food items.
The report indicated that PINE through the Office of the Secretary to
the Government of the Federation distributed 2,155 assorted shelter
materials in nine (9) different Local Government Areas of Borno State
which includes Bama, Damboa, Bakacy, Dikwa, Monguno, Mafa, Jere, Banki
and Gwoza.
The Federal Government according to the report responded swiftly to the
reported case of malnutrition in Bama camp, as severely malnourished
children and adults have been moved from Bama to Maiduguri for
comprehensive medical treatment.
Government has also deployed medical teams from the Federal Ministry of
Health and Nigerian Airforce to assist in support mission for nutrition
emergency response to those in need.
In addition, the government of Borno state is converting Islamiya School
in Bama to a hospital which will be equipped by the Nigeria Airforce to
achieve quick comprehensive treatment of victims.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, in consolidating
FG intervention in the North East ordered the establishment of the
Presidential Committee on North East Interventions, PCNI. The Committee
chaired by Gen. Theophilus Danjuma is responsible for rehabilitation,
reconstruction and recovery of the North East.
Equally, Government has also constituted an Inter-ministerial Technical
Working Group to facilitate an effective humanitarian assistance. The
Group is to expedite waivers and technical assistance by donors
providing humanitarian aid in North East.
Members of the Group include the Office of the Vice President, Office of
the National Security Adviser, NEMA, Ministries of Foreign Affairs,
Justice, Budget & National Planning, Finance, Nigeria Customs and
Immigration.
The Federal Government continues to assess the need and develop
effective ways of addressing them with the active collaboration of
local, national and international agencies including the United Nations
system. The Buhari presidency will neither relent nor leave any stone
unturned in ensuring that our people in the North East are provided with
the assistance, help and support needed to address the different
fallouts and impact of the insurgency that has ravaged the region for
years.
‘Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity)
Office of the Vice President
