The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have appealed to the Federal Government to empower them with starter-packs and funds after acquiring skills in various trades.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!IDPs made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
The group said that they have received some training from different organisations but have not been equipped financially so as to kick-start a venture that would help them out.
Mr Idris Halilu, Coordinator, IDPs Camp, Area 1, Durumi, said that the skills acquisition would help members of the IDPs to become assets rather than liabilities in their communities.
Halilu also called on the six Area Council Chairmen in the FCT to also take up a corporate social responsibility and cater for the IDPs in their own little way.
“We emphasise on skills acquisition backed by a financial support to kick-start a venture but people are not supportive to encourage the IDPs to continue with the training.
“Financial backing at this critical time is very important. When a human being is engaged he will not have satanic illusions.
“When we acquire skills, we should become an asset rather than a liability in his community.
“The six Area Councils in the FCT owe it a duty to assist the IDPs as part of their corporate social responsibilities,’’ he said.
In his remark, Mr Umar Gola, Public Relations Officer (PRO), IDPs Camp, Durumi, alleged that some people had formed themselves into cabals and had turned the camp into business affairs with intent to defraud the IDPs.
Gola expressed concern that those fake individuals or organisations use IDPs to make money by collecting relief materials from people but would neither deliver the right amount nor deliver the materials collected at all.
The PRO said that the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and some government Ministries were doing so much to see that some IDPs camps get enough attention.
“I want to believe that sharing of relief materials have become a continuous affair now because people have turned it into a big business.
“To be honest people are using IDPs’ to make money. Sometimes when we get someone to empower the IDPs’, they divert funds or materials for their own selfish interest.
“We have gotten much from the commission because they gave sewing machines, grinding machines and some farming equipment to some IDPs’ camps.
“Even in our camp they promised to bring people to teach us how to sew, which I believe that after the training they will bring some machines also for the people,” he said.
He commended the Commissioner for refugees and some government officials, saying that they have done so much for the IDPs.
