The Katsina State government, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have joined forces to provide sustainable solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in Katsina.
Yesterday, at the Katsina State Government House, Governor Dikko Umar Radda welcomed Dr Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Mr Farouk Gumel, vice chairman of TGI Group; and Mr Arjun Jain, UNHCR Representative in Nigeria, for the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
This partnership marks the launch of the Livelihoods for Improved Futures for Everyone (LIFE) project, which aims to provide economic empowerment and resettlement opportunities for 600 displaced families and their host communities.
Through this initiative, the governor has allocated 600 hectares of land to relocate displaced communities and offer them a chance to live in dignity and earn a livelihood once again. Host communities will also be included in this project.
“Katsina is committed to ensuring that all displaced communities can return home safely or find a suitable alternative where they live safely. This initiative is the first of its kind, underscoring our commitment to our people,” noted Radda.
The minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yilwatda, said government will support social inclusion and community assistance.
He said, “This project will stabilise 600 families and allow for dry-season irrigation. This will ensure that more families are employed and that we are one step closer to tackling food security and ensuring economic independence to some of the most vulnerable families, especially during the lean season.”
TGI will be offering technical support to the farmers, along with agri-inputs and zero-interest loans, while committing to off-take their produce.
“For TGI, we believe that rural inclusion is core to the overall economic development of our nation. We have a long history of working with small-holder farmers across the nation, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to thrive.
This initiative is important because it not only strengthens food security but also promotes a dignified approach to re-integrating displaced members of society while expanding the capacity of the agricultural value chain,” stated Farouk Gumel, vice chairman of TGI Group.
UNHCR will be supporting the communities and installing a solar-powered irrigation system that will allow for dry-season irrigation, which will eventually be run by the communities themselves.
“The number of internally displaced persons across Nigeria is increasing every year. We need to urgently find solutions for them. Towards that, we are delighted that the government of Nigeria and Katsina are taking the lead on this and that the private sector is engaging more actively.”
There are around 3.5 million internally displaced persons across Nigeria. Katsina hosts approximately 250,000 IDPs. Under the leadership of Governor Radda, a few thousand residents are also refugees across the border in Niger.
Katsina has taken significant measures to address the issue of forced displacement. All internally displaced persons live in host communities instead of camps, allowing them to integrate into communities.
