The federal government of Nigeria has revealed that it has signed a tripartite agreement with the United Nations and Cameroon for safety and smooth return of about 65,000 Nigerians domiciled in Cameroon. Hajia Umar Farouk, Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) confirmed this in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State as food and other items were distributed to the IDPs from Bakassi. She expressed her satisfaction on the signing as it would ensure the safety return of Nigerians from Cameroon.
However, records has shown that the number of people displaced by war, disaster or persecution has reached a high record of 68 million at the end of 2016. People around the world are suffering and need help for sustainability and development of their lives.
Recently, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara said the house would initiate programmes and policies aimed at improving the living standard of internally displaced persons in Nigeria. This was as a result of his visit to one of the IDP camps in Nigeria where he met with the some of the children who have now stopped attending schools. Some of the children expressed their feeling saying that they wished they could be more comfortable and attend schools. Some even said they need better clothes and food to eat. The speaker urged the children to dedicate themselves to the promotion of peace in the country.
As at 2015, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria were having the worst of this already hard times. In the various IDP camps scattered throughout the country, the conditions of living really leave a lot to be desired. IDP camps are not prisons neither are they detention camps, yet the challenges people are experiencing there are quite similar to those of detention camps, if not even worse. By the way, a lot of changes have taken place since the beginning of 2017. The federal government is seriously working towards making life better for the IDPs. Camps have been rebuilt and enough food and clothing have been supplied for use and consumption.
Some months back, one of the richest men in the world, Aliko Dangote said this is the time for wealthy Nigerians to stand up and make a positive difference as thousands of fellow citizens are languishing in the camps due to insufficient facilities and food items. The business mogul recently donated N2 billion and millions of Naira worth of food items on behalf of the Dangote Foundation, to the IDPs. He also visited some of the camps in Maiduguri in Borno State and urged Nigerians to have empathy for those in the camps.
The poor condition of the IDPs in the last few months didn’t only capture the attention of the federal government, it also attracted the attention of some rich people in the country. As a result, the condition has been reformed to a better state as IDPs in Nigeria are now living a better and worthwhile live.
