FG Compiling Data on IDPs for Resettlement

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja said his administration has begun compiling a comprehensive database of all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Nigerian refugees with a view to quickly resettling them.

He spoke while receiving the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Samantha Power, at the Presidential Villa.

The president said the compilation of IDPs dislodged by insecurity in parts of the country was being handled by relevant federal government agencies, the military and other security agencies.

"We have frightening indices of the number of people and the situation in the IDP camps across the country. And in spite of the government's efforts and the hospitality of individuals and organisations, the situation needs better handling.

"A large segment of the IDPs are mostly women and children. Some of the children are orphaned and don't know where they came from.

"Now, we are working on getting a comprehensive data of all the people in the camps so that the government and NGOs will be properly briefed on where and how to support them", he said.

The president said that IDPs, who were into farming before they were displaced by Boko Haram, would be mobilised and assisted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to return to their farms.

Ambassador Power commended the Federal Government for always being the first and highest responder to the IDPs in various camps in the country.

Power, who had earlier visited Nigerian refugees in Cameroun, said the situation in the camps could be improved with more information on the number of people in camps and their areas of need.

Addressing journalists after she met with Buhari, Power said the issue of kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls and other abductions were of huge priority to the US. "It was the issue I discussed at length with President Buhari today.

"We had moved to provide the information and intelligence needed to the Nigerian authorities. We have in recent months been able to allocate additional information sharing platforms and additional surveillance to aid the fight against Boko Haram.

Power, who had earlier visited Nigerian refugees in Cameroun, said the situation in the camps could be improved with more information on the number of people in the camps and their areas of need.

Related News

500
Leave a comment...