The vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has announced the federal government’s approval of N10 billion for the rehabilitation of communities affected by violent attacks in parts of the country.
The vice president who made the announcement yesterday during his visits to two internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Benue State also stated that President Muhammadu Buhari had tasked him (vice president) to oversee the rehabilitation of the affected communities.
“I am here as representative of the President who was here in March and had asked that a study be done on the situation. Mr. President now wants to do three things: to provide more effective security, especially in the affected communities, to ensure that our people can go back to their homes and before then rebuild their homes and to restore the farms, support traders and ensure education of the children. Mr. President says I should ensure all these things are done,” said Osinbajo at IDPs in camps in Abagana and Daudu.
The vice president added that to pay for the forthcoming rehabilitation, “the president has approved some money already to restore places that have been destroyed. A total of N10b has been approved and we intend to start the rebuilding.”
He assured that the places that would be rebuilt shall be better than what it was before, adding that “this is the right of the IDPs as Nigerians and is not a favour from the government.”
Prof Osinbajo, who was earlier received on arrival at the Makurdi Air Force base by Governor Sam Orton, was accompanied by the minister of agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh; director-general, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Maihaja; among other federal government officials.
Osinbajo who visits more IDP camps today had earlier held a town hall meeting with stakeholders including traditional, religious and other leaders in Makurdi.
