Nasarawa State government says it has uncovered 7 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps of seven years in Karu local government area of the state sheltering displaced persons from the North East due to insurgency.
The Director General of Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA), Mr Zachary Allumaga, stated this while briefing journalists on the NASEMA scorecard in Lafia, the state capital.
Allumaga said that Gov Abdullahi Sule would be visiting IDPS camps in Karu later today to interact and donate relief materials to them to cushion their hardship.
He expressed regret over the late information made available to the Agency on the existence of the IDP camps in Karu in the last seven years without the knowledge of the agency.
“The governor of Nasarawa state, Abdullah Sule will today Saturday by 2:pm be fraternizing with the IDPs said to be from the Northeast who have been part of the state for the past seven years and the Agency is not aware of.
“Some NGOs have built schools for the children, and the IDP are given vast land for farming which they are yielding very well, we will go into other areas that are extremely relevant to assist them to better their lives”, Allumaga said.
Allumaga said during the year under review, NASEMA had received foods and non relief assistance from different agencies of the federal government, which some had already been distributed to the flood victims and the vulnerable.
He listed the agencies to include National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, National Commission for Refuge.
“In the magnanimity of President Muhammadu Buhari, he made available grains to the state to be distributed to vulnerable persons in the society; 3,035 50kg bags of maize, 2000 500kg bags of sorghum, millet 1250 50kg bags.
“NEMA brought in relief assistance in various times, some which were already distributed to the flood victims in the state, so also Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation brought relief assistance through NEMA.
” On the 4th of October, we received from NEMA relief materials for the vulnerable, 1000 bags of Rice, 1000 bags of beans, 1000 bags of maize, 75 bags of salt, 75 gallons of vegetable oil, 160 cartons of seasoning cubes, 75 Tins tomatoes.
“Others are 7,350 pieces of Nylon mats, 1000 pieces of treated mosquito nets, 600 cartons of bar and bath soap, 2500 of guinea brocade (Cheda), 1000 pieces of children’s wear, 1000 women’s and men’s wears,” he listed.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, Gov Abdullahi Sule and his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe who also double as chairman of NASEMA board of directors for their support and passion for the vulnerable.
He, however, urged stakeholders; both elective and political appointees to make themselves available when the distribution of the items would be delivered in their various local government areas.