The Federal Government has reiterated its determination to decongest internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in different parts of the country and resettlement of IDPs in the Northeast.
The minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, stated this Tuesday in Abuja when officials of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) paid a familiarisation visit to the ministry.
She said: “As you’re aware, the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development was created by President Muhammadu Buhari in August last year, with the core mandate of coordinating disaster, humanitarian affairs and ensuring the social development of the country. In fact, the ministry is all encompassing as long as social development is concerned.
“It is the core mandate of the ministry to strengthen humanitarian activities and IOM has been a good partner in this regard. We have worked together with the IOM, even in the Refugees Commission, in combatting irregular migration. We appreciate IOM’s humanitarian efforts. Also, we are working round the clock in the issue of decongestion of IDPs camps.
“The Northeast Development Commission was created specifically for the recovery of the Northeast and for the IDPs to be resettled. We are looking forward to working with the IOM to ensure the Northeast is safe for the IDPs to return to their respective homes. We also welcome support in developing strategy and capacity building for staff of the ministry.”
Speaking earlier, the Director Department of Operations and Emergencies of IOM, Mr Jeffrey Labovitz, who was on his first visit to Nigeria, appreciated federal government’s efforts in catering for Nigerians, adding that he was interested in partnering with government in whatever form.
“We have a good team that can assist in catering for Nigerians. This is my first time in Nigeria and I told my team that we have to work with the federal government in every way possible. We are particularly interested in the decongestion of IDPs camps for resettled in their respective homes,” he said.