Dipo Olowookere
By Ebitonye Akpodigha
The Federal Government on Sunday donated three trucks-load of grains to returned Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Madagali Local Government Council of Adamawa.
Mr Sa’ad Bello, the NEMA Camps Coordinator in charge of Adamawa and Taraba, presented the items in Gulak town, Headquarters of Madagali.
Mr Bello said the gesture was part of Federal Government’s humanitarian intervention to assist returnee communities affected by boko haram insurgency.
He explained that the three trucks were, however, not sufficient, considering the number of the people but that more assistance would soon reach the community.
He added that “this is the first time grains relief material meant for the returnees through NEMA directly reached Madagali Local Government Area.
“The first relief materials distributed was in neighbouring Michika Local Government Area in August, where some of the items were shared with people from Madagali.”
He, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to judiciously use the items and not to sell as government was making arrangements to donate more to them.
Earlier, the Chairman of Madagali, Alhaji Yusuf Muhammed, had expressed gratitude to Federal Government for the assistance.
Mr Muhammed said over 250,000 people had already returned to the area and appealed for more assistance “to prevent anarchy of hunger and poverty.
“Our hope is that while federal and state governments, as well as NGOs continue to provide our people temporary relief, we want special budgetary provisions through relevant agencies and organisations.
“Such provisions will help the IDPs to recover completely from the ruins of the insurgency.”
He promised that the items would reach those meant for and warned that any village or community head found diverting the commodity would be punished.
