The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has taken over from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) the responsibilities of routine food distribution to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in designated camps, host and liberated communities in Borno and Adamawa states.

Following this development, Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, led the management of the agency to NEDC Abuja Liaison Office on a working visit, where he appreciated the take-over of the routine feeding of IDPs.

He said: “I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Managing Director of NEDC over his pledge on October 16, 2022 at the Conference Room of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development to take over the feeding of IDPs in camps and host communities, hitherto being provided with daily ration of food and non-food items by NEMA in Maiduguri and Yola in Borno and Adamawa states respectively.

“This gracious take-over of NEMA routine intervention by the NEDC will decouple the resources deployed and grant us the impetus to further deliver relief support to persons in need in the event of sudden onset disasters nationwide, including in the North East region.”

Despite the take-over, he pledged, NEMA will continue to provide relief assistance to impacted communities in the North East whenever disasters hit.

“The agency will be ready always to work with the NEDC in areas of relief support, damage and loss assessment as well as capacity for staff members, in consideration of the strong operational and service delivery commonality between our two sister agencies,” he added.

Reviewing the present situation, he explained that NEMA has over the years, since the escalation of the Boko Haram crisis, been feeding IDPs living in camps in Madinatu, Muna Garage, Customs House, Goni Kachallari and Shuwari in Maiduguri Metropolis, in addition to several other host communities.

“Also, in Adamawa, NEMA has been feeding IDPs in Fufore, Malkohi and St. Theresa camps. This is in addition to the provision of household items, hygiene materials, clothing and other items that ensure minimal comfort to the IDPs that comprise our innocent brothers and sisters caught up in the web of crises, lost their homes, their dignity and basic family comfort,” he added.

Responding, the Managing Director of NEDC Mohammed Alkali, said the decision to take over the routine feeding of the the IDPs would help eliminate duplication of efforts and allow for scarce resources to be deployed in other areas to assist Nigerians in distress. He described the new development as a positive beginning that unfolded a new vista of partnership between NEMA and NEDC for the benefits of Nigerians.