How some IDP camps leaders sell donations meant for IDPs

Some Internally displaced persons taking shelter in Abuja have cried out that their leaders have been selling items donated to them by well-meaning people and organizations.

At the IDP camp in Kuchigoro, Abuja where the practice has been going on for some time, a resident confirmed to Vanguard that the act is perpetrated by those in charge of the camp.

Vanguard reports the source as saying that leaders from Gwoza and other faraway camps in the Northeast take advantage of the long distance of the camps to remove parts of their share of the donations which they sell to traders.

‘‘It is true that some of the donations made to us are not getting to us. They sell some of the gift items to people. What the leaders do is that they sell some to the food items to food sellers and those that care to buy. Some IDPs too, sell theirs after collecting their share when they need money,’’ he said.

Some other IDPs at the camp corroborated the story.

Source : Vanguard

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UN To Help Nigeria Restore Security To Northeast

The United Nations has pledged to support Nigeria in her efforts to restore security and normalcy in the Northeast of the country.

Speaking on behalf of UN agencies in the country at the North East humanitarian stakeholders meeting organised by the Federal Government in Maiduguri, UNFPA Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms RatiDzai Ndhlovu said that
the humanitarian situation in the region required a multi sectoral response.

Her words ;

“Nigeria has the great capacity to deliver what it wants to do. Nigeria equally has the capacity to restore the shattered lives of the IDPs. Nigeria is determined to succeed in this regard.

“In search of all this is the government ownership in leadership among all stakeholders to complement and support government effort.“

And I think the presence of the Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo here, the presence of governors of the North East, deputy governors, royal highnesses here present and all dignitaries present in this hall today is a clear testimony of Nigeria’s determination to make a change.

“Allow me to commend the Government of Nigeria, especially NEMA and SEMA, for the great work that they are doing in supporting and coordinating the humanitarian response.

“I wish to express great appreciation to the military that is fighting to end insurgency and also ensuring that security is there for us the humanitarian workers to enable us do our work.

“It is quite elevating to notice the change that is happening. As you know there was a time we could never hold a meeting in Maiduguri.

“There was a time when we as the humanitarian agencies could not even think of holding a training workshop here in Maiduguri, but here we are today; it is a sign that we are making a strive in the right direction and we need to keep it up.

“I would like also to give special commendation to Governor Kashim Shettima’s steadfastness, resilience and determination to restore quality of life to the people of Borno state.

“I was here about four months ago and I am here today, and I have seen a change already.

“This interactive forum is very critical because it affords us the opportunity to come up with the most effective avenue to discuss ways that would enable us to come up with a consensus centred at most effective strategies that allow us to achieve what we want to achieve.

“It is desirable for us to restore peace, so let us work together, put our differences aside and work together for the progress of Borno State and the country.”

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The Days Of Boko Haram Are Numbered - Gov Shettima

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has declared that the days of Boko Haram are numbered as they no longer pose a threat to the territorial integrity of the country.

Shettima made the remark in Maiduguri while addressing the
Northeast humanitarian stakeholders meeting organised by the Federal Government.

According to Shettima, the meeting marked a significant step forward in the journey to forever chase insurgency out of the land and place the Northeast on the trajectory to sustainable development and peaceful coexistence.

In the address he read at the occasion, Gov Shettima said ;
“It is a well known fact that since the year 2009, our region has been caught in war that is imposed by unquestionable matters of health, a war of brutality that has no correlation in human history.

“A war that is characterised by wanton destruction of lives and properties, genocidal scale, fatal destruction of towns and territorial occupation by terrorists, mass abduction of innocent vulnerable boys and girls and even adults, displacing of millions of Nigerians into refugees in their own land.

“But it is equally a well known fact that in the last six months we have witnessed a new impetus in the counter insurgency effort so much so that a new hope of optimism is assured that the end of all this madness is finally in sight.

“Thanks to the ample political will demonstrated by President Muhammadu Buhari which has manifested in the creation of regional international anti-terrorist alliances as well as the remarkable improvement in the training and equipping of our armed forces.

“Our gallant and patriotic troops have become better motivated and have taken the war to the insurgents and have largely succeeded in degrading their capacity as a fighting force.

“These undesirable elements no longer constitute a potent threat to Nigeria's territorial integrity. Thus, despite the renewed but desperate and cowardly campaign of bomb detonations currently undertaken by the ungodly Boko Haram sect maiming and killing multiples of innocent people, we all know that their days are numbered."

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Osinbajo Tasks Civil Society Organizations

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Civil Society Organizations, CSOs to help rebuild, reconstruct, reconcile and resettle victims of Boko Haram activities in the Northeast.

Speaking at the Northeast Humanitarian Multi-stakeholder Engagement meeting in Maiduguri, Osinbajo said that the region would have been worse off without the contributions of the CSOs and other voluntary organizations.

“The many civil society groups, funding partners, regional and international partners, have given up their time, resources and even lives in some cases and deserve to be commended.

“But for you, first responders we would have been far worse off than we are today.

“The CSO community is the heart and conscience of underserved people and communities.

“You have shown uncommon compassion and offered a voice to the most vulnerable, especially when others were nowhere to be found.

“You have supported governments at all levels, in this region in particular, when things were very tough.

“As we deal with what is evidently the greatest human challenge in Nigeria’s recent history, we will need you to be even stronger.

“This challenge will require dedication, innovation and creativity especially from the NGO and CSO community.

“This meeting is more important for the fact that it is taking place here in Maiduguri, the city that has suffered the most loss of lives and property in the past six years of the Boko Haram scourge.

“Your being here underscores not just our empathy for the victims of the terror but also demonstrate the outreach that we all feel about the mindless killings, abductions and wanton destruction perpetrated by the sect.

“Our being here is equally a collective determination to find the most cost effective ways to intervene in restoring the dignity of the tens and thousands of IDPs from the North East.

“We may not know them by their names or faces, we may speak different faith but we are in the eyes of our Creator one and the same.

“We too, but for time and chance could have been in the same position.

“Rebuilding, restoring and rehabilitation would cost money and time but no money nor time can treat the trauma or loss of family, the shame and the pain of the raped, the scars and tears of the abducted,” Osinbajo said.

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Only Buhari Knows Inauguration Date Of Ministers

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina has said that only the president knows the inauguration date of ministerial nominees.

Speaking at the 25th anniversary of  the Scripture Union Nigeria, Abuja area and presentation of its book  ‘Acts of the Pilgrims’ on Saturday, Adeshina said that only President Buhari could give the date for the inauguration of the new ministers.

His words ;
”After ministers have been screened, the next thing is inauguration. So let us wait. It is only President Muhammadu Buhari who can give a specific date when the ministers will be inaugurated. He is the one that has the mandate and he is the one bringing the ministers to work with him. So we need to wait until he makes a pronouncement on the date he will be inaugurating them.”

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Only Buhari Knows Inauguration Date Of Ministers

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina has said that only the president knows the inauguration date of ministerial nominees.

Speaking at the 25th anniversary of  the Scripture Union Nigeria, Abuja area and presentation of its book  ‘Acts of the Pilgrims’ on Saturday, Adeshina said that only President Buhari could give the date for the inauguration of the new ministers.

His words ;
”After ministers have been screened, the next thing is inauguration. So let us wait. It is only President Muhammadu Buhari who can give a specific date when the ministers will be inaugurated. He is the one that has the mandate and he is the one bringing the ministers to work with him. So we need to wait until he makes a pronouncement on the date he will be inaugurating them.”

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Unite and deal with security challenges, Gowon tells Nigerians

Former Head of State and Chairman of Nigeria Prays, Gen Yakubu Gowon has urged Nigerians to unite and deal with the security and other challenges facing the country.

The elder statesman spoke on Saturday at the 25th anniversary of  the Scripture Union Nigeria, Abuja area where he was represented by the National Secretary of Nigeria Prays, Evang. Austin Kemie.

“This occasion must therefore compel us to reflect deeply on the state of our nation, particularly the issues relating to moral decadence, sexual perversions,restiveness, precarious security challenges and corruption.

“We must rise up to deal with various issues of moral burdens in our educational institutions and labour to arrest the tide through a massive prayer campaign and action.

“If we do not rise to bring our youths into the path of rectitude, then their future prospects will appear gloomy and therefore we cannot build a virile nation of trust, integrity and good governance,” he said.

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