THE Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq has donated relief materials to victims of Plateau crisis.
The Minister who was in Jos the Plateau State Capital recently was received by the Plateau State Governor at Government House Rayfield Jos after which the team moved to Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba Barracks in Bassa for distribution of the materials.
The Minister said she is in the state on behalf of President Mohammadu Buhari to commiserate with the people and Government of Plateau State over the loss of lives, properties and means of livelihood of people in the affected Local Governments during the September conflicts which affected Riyom, Jos North, Jos South and Bassa Local Government Areas.
While appealing for peace and dialogue as the way to get solution to the challenges, the minister said the major target of the Ministry is to ensure that during such periods, aid is given to vulnerable groups so that they get access to relief and social services.
“We find it pertinent to provide humanitarian relief so we have come with relief items made up of food and non food items for onward distribution to the affected persons and areas” she said.
In his speech Governor Lalong who described the moment as a time for sober reflections based on the number of lives that were lost expressed gratitude to President Buhari for sending security agents during the crisis which he said helped to stop the crisis from escalating.
“Immediately I visited the President, he was very proactive and directed your office to mobilize relief materials to my state”, he said.
Lalong prayed for peace on the Plateau and asked the minister to remind the President and Vice President to redeem the pledge of N10 million Naira which they also made to IDP’s in the state.
“If the money is redeemed” said Lalong, the money will go a long way in resettling and relocating IDP’s back to their homes.
He also commended the work and interventions of the Ministry towards alleviating the plight of people affected by conflicts and disasters in the country including the vulnerable in the society
The Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mustapha Umar Habib said Plateau has of recent been affected by series of crisis and based on assessment conducted by his agency, it was discovered that 15,450 persons were affected.
“This situation made Mr. President to mandate the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to intervene with relief materials to the affected persons and communities”, the DG said hoping that the gesture will give relief to victims.
There was also a good will message by the Ujah Anaguta, Johnson Jauro Magaji who appreciated the gesture of the Federal Government towards the affected areas and persons.
Among items delivered were 2000 bags of rice, 2000 bags of beans, 200 cartons of seasoning, 72 cartons of noodles, seasoning, 40 bales of mosquito nets, 80 bales of mats, 25 bales of 9 pieces blankets, 10 bales used clothes, 600 bundles of roofing sheet, and 600 Bags of cements, 600 pieces of ceiling board.
