Residents of Buni Yadi, a community in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, returned home on April 16, two years after fleeing their town due to series of attacks from Boko Haram terrorists. On Friday, a National Logistics Committe set up by Customs to coordinate the transfer of seized goods in its Warehouses to IDP Camps in the North East and other places, arrived the town to distribute relief materials to the IDPs.
According to the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Sanusi Umar, following a Presidential Mandate,
"a National Logistics Committee was set up by Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), to coordinate the transfer of seized goods in Customs Warehouses to IDP Camps in the North East and other places. Membership of Committee comprises Representatives from the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, and NAFDAC. We also had members from Civil Society Organization like the Red Cross and the Media.Through the partnership with these agencies, we have benefited from effective collaboration that ensured smooth operation. We must register our appreciation to all these agencies for their contribution towards this National assignment".
The National Logistics Committee on the distribution of Relief items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) made a stop-over in Damaturu,Yobe State. On arrival, the Committee headed to the State House to brief the Governor and State officials on the mandate of the Committee.
The State Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Engr. Abubakar Ali, received the Committee on behalf of the Governor. The Committee, led by the Deputy Governor proceeded to Buni-Yadi to distribute relief materials to the people who have suffered untold hardship.
Below is the remarks by Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, presented by the Commander, 79 Composite Group, Nigeria Air Force, Maiduguri, Air Commodore Paul Dimfina at the ceremony:
"It gives me great pleasure to be here in continuation of the intervention programme put in place by the Federal Government of Nigeria to assist our fellow Nigerians displaced by the insurgency crisis in the last 5 years.
2. Today’s event is therefore in fulfilment of a Presidential Mandate given to the Comptroller-General of Customs to transfer items seized by the Customs and legally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria for the use of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in various camps across the North-East.
3. In the first phase of its operation in Yobe, the Committee has transferred the following items for its intervention programme.
i. RICE (50KG) 4,491 Bags
ii. VEG. OIL (25 LTRS) 2,504 Jerry cans
iii. SOAP 500 Cartons
iv. USED CLOTHS 263 Bales
v. NEW CLOTHS (WRAP/BEDSHT) 297 Pieces
vi. TEXTILE YARD MATERIAL 41 Rolls
vii. BRANDED WRAPPER 200 Pieces
viii. SPAGHETTI 431 Cartons
ix. FOOTWEAR 250 Cartons & Bags
x. MOSQUITO COIL 527 Cartons
xi. SUGAR 20 Cartons & Bags
4. Your Excellencies, it is gladdening to note the current trend of IDPs leaving the designated Camps back to the communities. This is a testimony to the fact that Nigeria is winning the war on insurgents, and peace is being restored to the North-East.
5. This intervention should therefore be seen as laying foundation for full relocation of the displaced persons to their communities. It is our hope that with the coming of the raining season, our citizens in the liberated territories will engage in agriculture and other activities to re-engineer our economic revival.
6. On our part, we must express our appreciation to Mr. President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his support to the on-going operations to rid our dear country of insurgents wherever they may be. We like to assure Nigerians that we are committed to the onerous task of restoring peace to North-East, and lay a solid foundation for economic regeneration.
7. I also want to use this opportunity to urge returning IDPs to remain vigilant and report all suspicious activities to the Law Enforcement Agents.
8. Your Excellencies, on behalf of the National Committee, I hereby present these relief materials for the use of Internally Displaced Persons in Yobe State. Thank you"
The speech of the State Governor was read by the Deputy –Governor, Engr. Abubakar Ali:
"Let me also bring to the attention of this gathering that the current priority of the State Government is to ensure the restoration of the basic facilities in the areas to which the IDPs have returned or to facilitate their return. Already, the sum of about N20 million has been expended to rehabilitate water facilities in nine towns and villages including Katarko, Gujba, Goniri and Buni-Gari among others. Here in Buni-Yadi, with the current influx of people back to town, the immediate need of the people apart from food is provision of water and health facilities. The State Government is gearing towards the provision of these basic infrastructures to the town very soon. The rehabilitation of other facilities like health, schools, electricity and administrative buildings demand much more funds with Buni-Yadi alone estimated to cost more than N400 million”
Source: Nigeria Customs Service/NEMA
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