The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FCT-FEMA) has reiterated its resolve to improve the welfare of a total of 4,500 IDPs Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) located in makeshift camps in Wasa, Waru, Durumi and New Kuchingoro communities, in Abuja.
According to the director of the agency, Alhaji Abbas Idris, who disclosed this yesterday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, had set up a committee to work out modalities for the welfare and safety of the IDPs in the Territory.
“A lot of activities have taken place regarding the welfare of displaced persons and the FCT minister has set up a cross-functional committee headed by the army Garrison Commander.
“The function of the committee is to fashion ways by which government can take proper care of these persons so that the trauma they have experienced can be effectively managed.
“Though the FCT was caught unawares by the influx of the displaced persons war-torn areas of the country, we just have to rise up to the occasion by giving them adequate care,’’ he said.
Idris explained that FEMA presently accommodated IDPs in four makeshift camps within the FCT, adding that plans were on to build a permanent camp at Kuje.
“Presently, we have about 4,500 IDPs located in makeshift camps in Wasa, Waru, Durumi and New Kuchingoro, but we are working on more comfortable camp at Kuje.
“The idea is to ensure that these Nigerians, who are unfortunate victims of insurgency, are made to feel at home while in the camp.
“We, however, pray for an end to the insurgency so that they can move back to their homes,’’ the director stressed.
Furthermore, he said that the FCTA had taken steps to ensure that medical and educational facilities are made available to them, while skill acquisition programmes were being organised for artisans among them.
“The idea is to keep them busy so that they don’t get distracted by criminal elements in the society,’’ he pointed out. (NAN)
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
