Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The federal government through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has presented eight truckloads of various relief materials to over the 12,000 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camped in Maiduguri.

While flagging off the distribution of the relief materials in Maiduguri, the director general of NEMA, Sani Mohammed Sidi, said that the donated items were meant for the registered 12,000 IDPs forced to leave their homes in Bama and other neighbouring towns due to the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The displaced persons are now camped at the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, orientation camp and the Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS, Yerwa.

The NEMA boss, who was represented by the agency’s director of Research and Planning, Zanna Mohammed, said the relief materials were to compliment the efforts of the Borno State government in addressing the challenges faced by the displaced residents.

He told the displaced persons that President Goodluck Jonathan had personally directed the agency to deliver the 8 truckloads of relief materials to cushion their hardship.

He said the items will be managed by NEMA, the state committee in charge of displaced persons, as well as the security agencies.

“The intention is to bring succor to our displaced brothers not only in terms of food, beddings and other relief materials. We are also in a position to render any medical assistance that may be required.” Sidi added.

He assured that the federal government would continue to assist victims even after they have returned to their homes, as it was aware that farming activities have been affected by the insurgency in the region.

Sidi also noted that the agency is collaborating with the Red Cross, the state ministry of health and security agencies to ensure that epidemics like cholera, malaria and other communicable diseases do not spread at the camps.

The chairman of the committee set up by the Borno State government to care for the displaced persons, Usman Jiddah Shuwa, who received the relief items, thanked the agency for coming to the aid of the victims of the insurgency.

He also disclosed that governor Shettima has approved the sum of N100 million to cater for the plight of displaced persons in the camps.