Tears of joy in Adamawa IDPs camp, as NNPC, Eroton Oil distribute relief materials

The remote village of Chambaji in Yola-South local government in Adamawa State was on Wednesday enveloped with tears of joy, as women, children and old men housed in the Nana Asamau Nomadic Primary School Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp received assorted food items. They also got wrappers, mattresses, cooking utensils and other household items through the joint venture of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Eroton Oil Exploration and Production Nigeria limited.

Speaking to The Guardian, 72- year-old Asamau Shehu, standing beside her foam and other items she got, said she had never in her life had the opportunity to sleep on a mattress, because she could not afford it.

Shehu who asked God to protect and promote those behind the donation, said that since 2015 she was in the IDPs camp, there was no assistance from government or private companies, pointing out that it was the first time IDPS in Chambaji camp would get relief materials.

Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Dr. Baru Maikenti, said the joint venture donation was part of NNPC’s corporate social responsibility programme across the country and in its host communities.

Baru who was represented by Mr. Ogbonnaya Kalu, stated that the relief materials donated is the contribution of his agency to assisting the present government in its efforts to settle and reintegrate the
IDPs.

He said that the relief materials was to tell the IDPs in practical terms that Nigerians care about the plight of their brothers and sisters who are displaced due to the crisis going on in different of the country.

‘’We are here to join hands with government to give hope, succor to IDPs in Adamawa State‘’, he stated.

Head, Business Development of Eroton Oil Exploration and Production, Mr. Dele Akinwubare, said his company had a long time plan for touching the lives of those suffering as a result of crisis in different parts of Nigeria.

He pointed out that the aim of his company is to ensure that all Nigerians in IDPs camps return to their various ancestral homes to rebuild their lives and stand on their feet to feed themselves and families.

He said that Yola-south, Michika and Madagali local governments would benefit from the relief materials.

The branch secretary of Nigerian Red Cross Mohammed Bello, said IDPs in Chambaji were those displaced from Lamurde,Numan and Demsa local governments in southern Adamawa as a result of herders and farmers clashes.

He said the camp had 4000 displaced persons.