President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has laid the foundation for the official launch of the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict (RSPIC) to address the humanitarian crisis caused by internal displacements across Nigeria.
The project marks a shift in the government‘s approach to internal displacement and conflict resolution and a commitment of President Tinubu to not just temporary relief but long-term rehabilitation and reintegration of affected communities.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the pilot phase of the project in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State, President Tinubu who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima in a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha said, “There couldn’t have been a better place for the take-off of this intervention than this diverse state.”
The president said; “Kaduna State has offered us a launch pad to venture into the communities dislodged by conflict. For so long, we have been held hostage by the fear of ourselves and allowed preventable incidents to escalate into transgenerational disputes. Today, we gather to say, ‚Enough is enough.“
Earlier in February, VP Shettima had inaugurated a steering committee to coordinate the implementation of the initiative in fulfillment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s promise to improve the lives of all Nigerians.
The committee chaired by Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, also has representatives of governors of the benefiting states as members.
Other members of the committee include the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari; representatives of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), BUA Group, Dangote Group and the Director General of NEMA, among others.
The project will initially focus on seven states that have been disproportionately affected by farmers-herders conflicts. They are Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna State.
President Tinubu said the administration is determined to break the cycle of violence and displacement that has plagued various parts of the country for years. „Our journey to this point has been long and arduous, but today, we converge in this historic city to demonstrate our resolve to overcome adversity.“
The RSPIC is designed as a multi-faceted intervention that goes beyond mere infrastructure development. According to the President, the scheme will „construct residences, roads, schools, and essential facilities for victims of conflict“ while also providing „a dignified environment to live and to dream.“
Governor Uba Sani‘s efforts in promoting unity were particularly praised by the President, who noted, „In just about a year in office, His Excellency Governor Uba Sani has been an inspiration for unity in this beautiful state. His approach is not only a template for other state governors but also for the nation at large.“
President Tinubu said, „The non-kinetic interventions we have explored since taking office are best demonstrated by our state governors, and Kaduna is a light of hope in this aspect.“
The president noted the national significance of the project saying, „Conflict and displacement, to us, are not merely regional issues; they are national concerns that demand a unified response. They threaten the very fabric of our society, and it is only through justice, distribution of democratic dividends, and collaboration that we can overcome these challenges.“
