Niger Denies Poor Condition At IDP Camps, Plans Skills Acquisition Centre

The Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has debunked reports of poor treatment of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their camps in the state.

The ministry said in a statement yesterday in Minna by the director of media and strategy, Habibu Wushishi, that a N3 billion skills acquisition centre  is to be built for the IDPs.

The statement described as  false, reports that the camps were deteriorating and thousands of IDPs were in dire need of basic amenities and facing health challenges.

“Even though the ministry is focused on discharging its responsibilities of serving humanity and curbing disasters of all kinds and does not wish to join words with such platforms which do not physically visit such camps but sit in the comfort of their offices or rooms to write frivolous stories, it is has become imperative to set the records straight,” it said.

The statement said the ministry is  committed to discharging the mandate of ensuring that the IDPs are adequately taken care of, hence the continued distribution of food items, mosquito nets, blankets and other materials intermittently since its creation on July 16, 2023 by Governor Umar Mohammed Bago.

Wushishi said in the statement that while at various camps people with health challenges and other forms of difficulties were always profiled and the necessary attention given to them, the ministry as a donor-driven ministry had visited  many local, national and international donor organisations such as North South Power Company, T. Y. Danjuma Foundation, National Commission for Refugees, UNICEF, NEMA, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty alleviation for assistance.

The statement added: “It is very pertinent to state categorically today that because of the commitment, diligence, strategy and careful planning, the ministry has sought and got an approval for the building of a N3 billion skills acquisition center for the North Central in Minna for IDPs to make themselves economically and socially self-reliant and the construction is about commencing any moment.”