The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk, has disclosed that no fewer than two million Nigerians are living as internally displaced persons (IDP).
This, she said, is due to terrorist activities in the North-east of Nigeria, as well as banditry and other forms of criminal activities in the North-west and other parts of the country.
The minister spoke on the level of dislocation that humanitarian crises had inflicted on Nigeria after leading a delegation to visit President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja, the capital.
According to her, the ministry has been doing as much as the resources at its disposal would permit to cater for the needs of all IDPs in different parts of the country.
“As at today, we have over two million displaced persons in the country. Ranging from those displaced by insurgency, armed banditry, communal clashes and so on and so forth, she said
“The mandate of the ministry is to provide effective communication of national and international humanitarian interventions, ensure strategic disaster education and response as well as to formulate and implement policies and programmes geared towards social protection and inclusion of our citizens.
“So, the ministry is doing its best to see that people who are displaced in this country are given the necessary support by way of supporting their livelihoods, rebuild their homes in areas of disasters and settling those who have fled their places seeking for refuge, provided their communities are safe for them to return.
“This is what we are working on and we hope to achieve the desired result.”
She said she led others to visit the president in appreciation of the attention and priority that his administration has devoted to people living with disabilities, adding that this is the administration that has ever given such attention to people with special needs.
“Today is a very important day for us and the disability community. We are here on a thank you visit to Mr. President. First, for his support on the issues of persons with disabilities in this country.
“You may recall that in January 2019, the President assented to the bill on the prohibition and discrimination against persons with disabilities in this country, that was the first milestone, the President also graciously appointed the chairman, board members and the executive secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
“So, this is a visit to demonstrate our appreciation and our commitment to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“That was followed by the fulfilment of Mr. President’s campaign promise to the disabilities community, where he promised to sign the Disabilities Act when he comes on board.
“That has been done and the commission has been created. So the next takeaway is for Mr. President to issue an executive order for compliance with this Act, especially in the area of access, where most of our public and private buildings are not really friendly to persons with disabilities.