This is coming barely a week following revelation of starvation and hunger in various IDP camps despite billions of naira worth of gifts and cash donated for their upkeep.
The IDPs made this request on Thursday when the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), as part of the activities put in place to provide succour to the poor and ensure the well-being of the displaced persons, gave food items worth thousands to the New Kuchingoro Camp in Abuja.
According to the chairman of the IDPs, Mr. Philemon Emmanuel, they have being surviving since their relocation from the North Eastern states following the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists in 2014 to the camp, on the goodwill of some genuine NGOs, public-spirited individuals, and faith-based organisations, amongst others.
“We have been here since 2014; we are 1,467 persons from Borno State’s Kozar local government area and 56 from Adamawa. And we have been surviving because of the help of some churches, organisation, mosques and private individuals.
“We hear many times that people have donated items to assist IDPs in Abuja but don’t get to see the donations. Recently, we heard that Dangote donated items worth millions of naira to IDPs in Abuja but we are yet to receive the items. We, however, want to appeal that if some people want to help they should come through the IDPs camp so we can get the assistance directly,” Emmanuel remarked.
He lamented that the Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had promised to erect befitting structures, only to default several months later on the ground that the IDP camps were not captured in Abuja master plan.
He said that “since october 2014, NEMA has promised to build schools, hospitals for us but till date non have been done”.
Emmanuel disclosed that the Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdulkareem Lawan, had “promised to bring 1,000 wrappers for the women but up till now we have not heard from him”.
He equally accused the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, of “failing to provide the 1000 wrappers he promised the women in the camp”, adding that “the inability to fulfill the promise had led to accusations that some officials of the camp collected and diverted the wrappers”.
In the same vein, the Director of School Without Walls, Kuchingoro Study Centre, Pastor Sanwo Olantunje David, admitted that there are “no measures has been put in place to ensure quality education of IDPs”.
David also said that schooling for the IDPs’ children who were seen taking classes under the tree, was introduced by a non-governmental orgnisation (NGO), Life Builder Initiative.
Ala-Obarie said that the visit was to identify with the IDPs and contribute a token to help in alleviating their deplorable condition.
He said “basically, we are just here to contribute as a professional institute. We are aware of the deplorable condition as result of the Boko Haram insurgent in their state”.
He also called on the government, NGOs and private organisations to follow the lead in ensuring that IDPs are well cattared for.
