By Haruna Gimba
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for urgent intervention bon the plight of over 800,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in need of food in areas affected by insurgency in the state.
The appeal was contained in a statement issued by Governor Zulum’s Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau on Friday in Maiduguri.
Gusau stated that the governor made the appeal through a letter he presented during a visit to NEMA headquarters in Abuja, where he informed the agency’s boss about the critical needs of the IDPs in 11 towns.
“Governor Zulum in the letter informed NEMA’s Director General, AVM Muhammadu Alhaji Mohammed (Rtd), that IDPs in Monguno, Bama, Damboa, Gwoza, Dikwa, Gamboru, Ngala, Damasak, Banki, Pulka and Gajiram need urgent access to food supplies,” the statement said.
He stated that the governor had, however, acknowledged interventions made by NEMA, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and efforts by the Nigerian Customs Service, following presidential directive two years ago that food seizures be used for humanitarian support in crises areas.
The statement added that Zulum also noted that food interventions must be sustained because majority of IDPs rely on agriculture as means of livelihood, “and substantial portions of them cannot access their farmlands due to insurgents’ attacks.”
The Director General of NEMA was quoted as assuring the governor of sustained support, and lauded the efforts of Zulum’s administration toward transforming the state through a well thought out development plan.
The NEMA boss also assured Zulum of the agency’s support, particularly in the actualisation of the state’s recently unveiled 25 year development plan.
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum had also met the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyema, on inter governmental efforts for repatriation of thousands of Borno State citizens displaced by insurgency, presently taking refuge in Cameroon in the last six years.
Health Reporters gathered that there are more than 60,000 refugees in Minawawo camp in Cameroon Republic, waiting to be evacuated.
