Communal Clashes: Federal Government distributes relief items in Plateau State

The Federal government has delivered food and non-food items to the Government of Plateau State in North-central Nigeria for onward distribution to over 15,450 persons affected by communal crises in five Local Government Councils of the State.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq, while handing over the items in Jos, the State capital said the relief items were meant to provide succour to the affected persons.

According to her, the move was also to commiserate with the Government and people of Plateau State following the loss of lives and property as a result of the communal unrest, banditry, religious and ethnic crises in Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Riyom as well as Jos North and Jos East.

She also commended President Muhammad Buhari for promoting a people-oriented agenda that seeks to reduce poverty in Nigeria.

“I wish to use this medium to commiserate with the Governor and good people of Plateau State especially those in Jos North, Jost East, Birkin Ladi, Bassa and Riyom local government areas, over the loss of lives of their loved ones, their property and sources of livelihood due to communal clashes.

“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development is currently pushing for a triple nexus track and approach that promotes peacebuilding as a crux to long-lasting and sustainable development. While humanitarian relief and aid can provide temporary relief, the goal is to ensure that vulnerable persons build resilience through access to social protection services and programmes.

 “Following an assessment by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, we found it pertinent to visit and to provide humanitarian relief to cushion the effects and to reduce vulnerabilities.” Umar Farouq noted

Responding, Governor Simon Bako Lalong thanked the Minister for her prompt response after the Humanitarian crisis was reported to her.

He also extolled the President for approving the relief items while calling on the Federal Government to assist in the relocation and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons affected by the crisis.

“The Vice President had promised us N10b to help in relocating the people back to their respective communities. We plead with you to help us follow up on that pledge as ten billion naira will go a long way in providing shelter for them to enable them to start life afresh and begin their farming,” the Governor said.

Earlier, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ahmed Mustapha Habib stated that NEMA had conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the damage in the five affected Local Government Councils.

“Some attributes of the unfortunate situation is the farmers/herders conflict. Lives have been lost in the nefarious attacks while crops and property were also destroyed. A total of about 15,450 persons were affected in the five Local Government Areas of the State. 

“NEMA, saddled with the responsibility of responding to emergencies is to distribute the materials to affected persons,” he disclosed

Items handed over to the Government of Plateau State include;

2000 bags (10kg) of rice,

2000 bags (10kg) of beans,

2000 bags (10kg) of maize,

144 kegs of vegetable oil (20ltrs), 200 cartons of seasoning,

74 bags of salt (20kg),

200 cartons of indomie noodles,

200 cartons of Milo,

200 cartons of powdered Milk,

200 cartons of bath soap, 200 cartons of detergent,

1,000 pieces of Mattresses,

10 bales and 1,000 pieces of Wax Prints,

10 bales of used clothes

40 bales of mosquito nets,

25 bales and 9 piece-blankets,

20 bales mats,

16 bales of 20 piece-Guinea Brocade material,

600 bags of cement,

400 bundles of roofing sheets,

600 sheets of ceiling boards,

300 bags of 6-inch nails and 100 packets of zinc nails.

The Minister later commissioned a newly built ICT Centre at the Olusegun Obasanjo Model Primary school, Hwolshe located in Jos North.

PIAK