Dangote, others offer N230 million support to IDPs

ABOUT N230 million was raised at the advocacy and fund raising event organised by the management of Daily Trust for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East, in Abuja yesterday.

The highest contributor, Dangote Foundation made a donation of N100 million, the governors of Borno, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe, Adamawa and Yobe contributed N60 million, while North East Caucus in the House of Representatives pledged N22 million.

Alhaji Isiaq Ajibola, a Director in Daily Trust, who announced the donations, said that caring for the IDPs was a worthy cause and the management decided to support them through the event.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Damagum, while welcoming dignitaries disclosed that there are two million internally displaced people in Nigeria.

Damagum made a donation of N10 million towards alleviating the suffering of those affected by the Boko Haram, adding that the fund would be used to send the children to school as well as take care of the widows.

The planning committee chairman also disclosed that they would contact telecommunication firms to contribute, pointing out that they have drawn attention of the world to internally displaced people, because they are committed to their welfare.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Umaru Abdul-Mutallab, argued that the advocacy and fund raising was necessary because of the hardship faced by the people as a result of insurgency, which has displaced 1.3 million people in the North East.

Mutallab also revealed that over 400,000 refugees are now in neighbouring countries. “Children have been sent away from schools and the challenge is for all and sundry to focus on these displaced people.”