Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, has reiterated the determination of the government to address various challenges facing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country.
The Speaker urged the displaced persons not to despair, assuring them that they had not been forgotten and would not be left behind.
Gbajabiamila spoke during his outreach programme at the Durumi IDP Camp, Abuja, where he donated food and sanitary items to the Durumi and Kuchigoro IDP camps.
He said efforts would be made to ensure that every Nigerian that had suffered the misfortune of being forced to flee their homes would be encouraged to return to productive livelihood.
Represented by his Special Assistant on IDPs, Hamzat Ibrahim Baba, the Speaker donated over 300 bags of rice, cartons of vegetable oil, cartons of noodles, packs of sanitisers, bags of facemasks, among other items.
He said: “We are here to extend the arms of fellowship to our brothers and sisters who, in flight from conflict and deprivation, have come to find a measure of peace in the protection of this camp.
“We have come bearing gifts, which we hope will in some small way help to improve the circumstances of life for all those who are resident in this camp.
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“But, more than that, we have come bearing assurances that you have not been forgotten and you will not be left behind.
“The Speaker has made a commitment of his time in office to ensure a return to productive livelihood for all citizens of Nigeria who have suffered the misfortune of being forced to choose between dying at home and running away to survive.
“I assure you of his determination to succeed in that endeavour.
“Allow us the honour of spending the day with you as brothers and sisters, and may God bless and keep us all through the challenges of the present times.”
In his response, the coordinator and spokesman of Abuja-based IDPs, Idris Ibrahim Halidu, while commending the gesture of the Speaker, noted that Gbajabiamila was the first lawmaker to remember IDPs in Abuja since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“The Speaker has been around for a long time and we know him. He is not a bench warmer; he has been very active and proactive.
“He is the first to remember us since the outbreak of this pandemic.
“As we thank him for this kind gesture, we implore him to help to resuscitate the IDPs Bill. It passed second reading in the 8th National Assembly but could not go further. We want to encourage him to assist in revisiting the bill.”
