FG distributes palliative to IDPs community in Niger

*Sets up transit schools for 11,000 out of school displaced children

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, has distributed food and non-food material palliative to Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs), community at Shiroro Local Government Area, (LGA), of Niger state that were displaced by bandits

While distributing food items like rice, cooking oils and starter packs to 400 N- -Skills beneficiaries such as vulcanizing machines, pumping and grass cutting machines, and irrigation pumps, among others, Edu said the federal government will help resettle the IDPs.

“The Federal Government is considering options of providing a resettlement centre in the interim where IDPs can resettle and vacate the school premises they are presently occupying so that our children can return to their classes”

“The current staggering figure of out of school children in Nigeria is not good for the country. As you know, education is the foundation, and if we must fight poverty, we must return our children to school because that is the key and the beginning of ending the circle of poverty.

“As a government, we will do all we can to tackle the problem from the root cause so that they can continue with their education,” she said.
She revealed that there is already a planned partnership between the federal government, Niger state government and the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF), to set up transit schools for the 11,000 out of school displaced children in a secure location in the state.

In a statement signed by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Zubair, she said the partnership is in line with the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Niger State First Lady, Hajia Fatima Bago, expressed appreciation to the federal government for their support and interest in the humanitarian needs of the people of the state and Nigeria in general.

Hajiya Bago said,”These internally displaced persons need help, and we have to find a way to bring an end to insecurity in our state. Once there is security, the poverty level will be largely reduced.

“We have heard and felt the message of Renewed Hope’, the Honourable minister brought to us in Niger state from Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Bola Tinubu.”

The state commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Ahmed Suleiman, noted that said 29,774 people have been displaced by bandits in the state.

This figure according to him, comprised 7,650 women, 3,201 men, and 11,113 out-of-school children in addition to 108 people with special needs across 11 local government areas.