Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Durumi Camp, Abuja, have appealed for urgent government intervention and farmland to support women-led households.
The call came during a visit on Thursday by Lily Grace, a UK-based philanthropist and founder of Chat My Cause Farmers’ Initiative International.
Grace said many displaced women had been neglected for over a decade, with no sustainable support or means of livelihood.
“These women are not asking for handouts. They want land to farm, feed their children, and live in dignity,” she said.
She urged the Federal Government, National Refugee Commission, NEMA, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and other stakeholders to provide accessible farmland near the camp.
“Give them land, and we will support them with seeds, tools, and training,” she added.
Grace described the conditions at Durumi Camp as a “long-term humanitarian failure.” She said displaced families lived in makeshift shelters, faced repeated demolitions, and had no access to farmland.
She called on the President, FCT Minister, and relevant agencies to allocate land close to the camp for farming.
Halima Abubakar, the Women’s Coordinator, said most displaced women were farmers before the insurgency forced them out of their communities.
“We know farming. That’s our skill. But here, there’s no land and no way to transport ourselves to distant areas,” she said.
She said over 3,500 women and children live in the camp, relying on short-term donations.
“We need land. Even small plots will help us grow food and support our families,” she added.
Liyatu Ayua, another displaced woman, shared her experience.
“My entire family was killed. Only my father survived. We now sleep in shacks, exposed to the rain and sun,” she said.
Fatima Abubakar said she once farmed maize and groundnuts in her village but now depends on charity.
“I never begged before. I want to work, but I have no land or tools,” she said.
Aisha Bello expressed similar frustration but remained hopeful.
“I still keep seeds in a small jar, waiting for the day we get land,” she said.
An elderly resident, Baba Idris Ibrahim Halilu, thanked Lily Grace for her support.
“Many are called, but few are chosen. Thank you for remembering us,” he said.
Grace ended her visit with a plea to leaders and stakeholders.
“These women are your mothers, sisters, and daughters. The time to act is now,” she said.
She also urged the private sector, NGOs, and development partners to support long-term solutions, including farmland access and livelihood support.
Efforts by Chat My Cause to get comments from the Refugee Commission and NEMA were unsuccessful. (NAN)