By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Democratic Front (TDF) has described the United Nations’ commendation of Nigeria’s effort at addressing the problems of internal displacement in the country as refreshing.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, the group said it was a high-level global endorsement of the humanitarian policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
”It is of a greater joy for us to note that the well-deserved commendation came after the visit of a United Nations high-level mission to Nigeria. It was a verdict based on their on-the-spot assessment of the management of the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the last two years.
”We agree with the position of the UN mission, which comprised the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations Human Rights Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) that the management of the challenges of IDPs under the Tinubu administration has seen a paradigm shift from humanitarian aid, to self-reliance.
Similarly, TDF agrees with the assertions of the UNDP Crisis Director, Mr Shoko Noda, that Nigeria has the potential to build a comprehensive model in support of solutions that can inspire similar progress in other displacement contexts.
”It is, however, fair to acknowledge the fact that President Bola Tinubu inherited a huge burden of internal displacement from previous administrations in Nigeria, resulting from factors of insecurity and natural disasters.
”Nevertheless, his administration has been able to deploy more humanitarian aid to displaced persons, and also built more resettlement centres, as well as avenues for vocational and skill acquisitions for displaced communities.
”This is the aspect of human resettlement innovation which the visiting U N team described as ‘a clear shift from relief to self-reliance.’
TDF provided an insight into one of the initiatives introduced by the Tinubu administration to make IDPs self-reliant.
”We recall that President Tinubu launched a multi-faceted intervention program known as the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflicts (RSPIC) in July 2024. Through this initiative, the administration has been able to deploy food and non-food items to displaced communities across the country.
Additionally, the initiative has successfully provided other emergency relief deliveries and targeted financial support programs in the quest to achieve long-term rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced persons.
Under the programme, the government is currently constructing roads, schools, clinics, residences, and other essential facilities in conflict-affected states of Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Niger States. The initiative aptly fulfilled the President’s promise to ‘Heal wounds, and rebuild displaced lives.’
The group also appeal to the United Nations team to step up its earlier calls on international financial institutions and development partners, to maximise their support for Nigeria in attaining self-reliance and microeconomic resurgence.
