The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja renewed its commitment to ending humanitarian crisis and resettlement of persons of concern back to their ancestral homes.
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, gave the assurance when Mr Martin Griffiths, the UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Coordinator (USG/ERC), and his team visited her.
“I want to assure you that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari is very committed to ensuring that the issues of insurgency is being addressed.
“I also want to assure you that the government is committed to ensuring that displaced persons are returned to their respective communities in safety and dignity.
“We have government agencies that are saddled with that responsibility which my ministry is coordinating. We are doing our best to ensure that these issues are being addressed, especially in the area of resettling and supporting these people.
“Like I said, the ministry has agencies under it, for example, the North East Development Commission was created to rebuild the North East, especially Borno, and we are watching closely,” Farouq stressed.
She reiterated that her Ministry is doing its best to deliver on its mandate both locally and international coordination of humanitarian crisis concerning the country.
According to her, even though the challenges are enormous, the Nigerian Government is committed to addressing the issues.
“We hope that insecurity would come to an end so that every affected person would return back to his or her community in safety and dignity, and go about their normal lifestyle.
“However, we are supporting them in different areas of skills so that they can have something to earn a living.
“We are appreciative of the support of the UN agencies that are working with us in different fields and we hope that this will continue in the coming years,” Farouq said.
Speaking earlier, Griffiths said he and his team just came back from a two-day visit to Maiduguri, where they met some of the displaced persons.
“I would like to say that we are very pleased to partner with you in the effort to meet the needs of these people and many, whom I have met. This would be a long term engagement.
“Yesterday, we saw the successful return of some of these people back to their homes in dignity, respect and prosperity, and I am convinced that the approach we saw in the field is a very effective one.
“I will tell the stories on the tragedy that befall these people many years ago, most especially on women, their families and destitution and the circle of displacement that the world need to remember and stand by you.
“It was a productive visit and I learnt a lot,” Griffiths stressed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other members of the team were Matthias Schmale, Sofie Garde Thomle and Ms Natasha Geber.
On the side of the Minister were the Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, Alhaji Grema Ali, and other directors in the ministry. (NAN)