Jethro Ibileke/Benin
FILE PHOTO: NEMA official address Internally Displaced Persons
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Sunday raised the alarm that Nigeria alone cannot cope with the rebuilding of the areas ravaged by the terrorist war waged by Boko Haram.
He said that the high level of destruction of lives and property as well as the displacement of millions of Nigerians in the north-eastern region of Nigeria requires foreign intervention.
The Speaker who said this when he led a delegation of federal lawmakers on a visit to a centre for internally displaced persons located in Uhogua community, Ovia North local government area of Edo State, called on the international community to support efforts by the federal government to rebuild the region that has suffered tremendously from acts of terrorism perpetrated by the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
According to him, the level of crisis in the region and its impact in the country required proper management in order to prevent a further spread to other nations, just as he hinted that plans were underway to organise an international donor conference, adding that the crisis was such that could not be handled financially by Nigeria alone but through collaborative efforts, like the recent intervention received by Syria.
He said, “As far as I am concerned, if it was the responsibility of the House of Representatives, we can do it tomorrow. But unfortunately, we need all the arms of government to make it happen. This, I believe, will provide a platform to further that discussion.
“But the important thing is that it has been done for Syria. So, I do not see why the international community will not respond to this crisis that we are faced with in Nigeria. The world is a global village; the problems in Nigeria, if they are not well taken care of, will have an international dimension sooner than later.
“Those countries in Europe who felt that they were detached from the crisis in Syria, were overrun by the massive influx of migrants. For us to deal with this, there must be an international response, so that we will be able to nip it in the bud in Nigeria and ensure that we supply the facilities they (IDPs) need.”
Dogara who expressed shock over the number of displaced persons at the centre, said to be over 900, announced the payment of their WAEC, NECO and UTME fees.
He also donated several food items and assured them of the federal government’s commitment to ensure that they are reunited wilfully with their families.
Nigeria alone cannot rebuild north-east, says Dogara
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