The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) on Thursday said that the Federal Government would build 500 housing units for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Zamfara, Borno, Adamawa and Katsina States.
The Federal Commissioner in charge of the Commission, Sen. Basheer Mohammed, made this known in Gusau while distributing relief materials to IDPs in the state.
Mohammed said that the Federal Government was concerned about the plight of the 2.4 million IDPs and their reintegration and resettlement, so that they could live a normal live.
“We are here for the distribution of food and non-food items that will benefit indigenes of Anka, Gusau, Maradun, Shinkafi and Zurmi Local Government Areas of the state.
“As a Federal Government agency, our priority is to safeguard and protect the lives of specific vulnerable groups under our purview within the 36 states and FCT.
“The commission has taken this as a priority to build 500 housing units for IDPs in Borno, Katsina and Adamawa including Zamfara State, as phase one of the projects and we have gone far in this regard.
“We have received commitments from Borno, Katsina and Adamawa States to grant us 50 hectares of land.
“Resettlement of 500 households, totalling 3,000 people in each resettlement city and a transformation of lives and dignity restored,’’ he said.
He noted that the commission was at an advanced stage with public and private investors to deliver on this goal.
“Zamfara has been chosen to be part of this housing development project which will ultimately complement the laudable efforts your government has made with Ruga Project.
“As I mentioned earlier, our major priority is our people that are displaced and if Zamfara Government approved, we will build 500 households resettlement fully equipped with facilities.
“We will also provide livelihood support schemes linked to clean water and health infrastructure; as phase one is attached to hygiene maintenance, financial inclusion and the creation of jobs.
“I will like to use this medium to obtain your approval for the allocation of 50 hectares of land in a safe zone, as a follow up to earlier request.
“The approval and partnership with the commission will be of great encouragement to our investors,’’ Mohammed said.
Responding, the Zamfara Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mahadi Aliyu-Gusau, thanked the state government for the gesture.
Aliyu-Gusau said that state government had been giving relief materials to various disaster victims in the state.
“We consider this as a complement to our state government’s efforts under Gov. Bello Matawalle.
“I am giving the commission an assurance of the state government’s efforts to any Federal Government’s organisation for the development of the state,’’ the deputy governor said.
