FG focused on early recovery of North-east– Farouq

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, has said that the federal government is focusing on the early recovery of the Northeast.

In a statement made available to Blueprint Weekend in Abuja Friday, which was signed by the Assistant Director, Information, Rhoda Ishaku Iliya, Farouq disclosed this on Friday when she received in audience the European Union (EU) Commissioner, Mr. Janez Lenarcic and his team during a courtesy visit to the ministry.

Speaking on the ministry, which is less than six months old, Farouq explained that government, in its wisdom, created Humanitarian Ministry to handle all humanitarian activities in the country.

According to the minister, the ministry is saddled with the responsibility of admitting all humanitarian affairs nationally and internationally as well as formulating policies geared towards preparedness and response, adding that, since its inception, the ministry has tried to build strategic partnership with national and international stakeholders.

Speaking further on the activities of the ministry, she said that sensitisation programme has been carried out to ensure that all stakeholders and the general public are enlightened on humanitarian disaster challenges facing the country.

Farouq noted that, to achieve success, the ministry’s key priority is to have an evidence data system to effectively and efficiently plan for all the expected intervention to benefit the targeted population, even as she explained that the ministry is working hard towards achieving Mr. President’s directive, which is focused on the rehabilitation, resettlement and integration of displaced communities.

Earlier in his remark, the EU Commissioner, Mr. Janez Lenarcic, commended the minister on her achievements upon her assumption of office especially in her support and assistance to individual humanitarian organisations.

Lenarcic, in his first visit to Africa, stressed the need for adequate safety and security of aid workers providing humanitarian assistance in the North-East and the entire population.

He also spoke on the challenges encountered by the aid workers, who are not able to get access to a larger number of the targeted masses who are outside the government controlled areas.

He therefore expressed the willingness of the European Union to tackle the prevailing crisis facing the North-East and seek for federal government’s support in ensuring that humanitarian activities are effectively carried out in such areas.

Leave a Reply