By Ebi Kesiena
Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Dr. Betta Edu has announced that her Ministry is collaborating with UNICEF and the state governments to create new transit schools for 11,000 out-of-school children within a secured location in Niger state.
This, according to Edu is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which focuses on the eradication of poverty and reduction of the humanitarian crisis in the country.
While distributing food items like rice, cooking oils and starter packs to 400 N- -Skills beneficiaries such as vulcanizing machines, pumping and grass cutting machines, and irrigation pumps, among others, the minister noted that the multi-dimensional humanitarian challenges facing parts of the state were surmountable with partnership between the FG, state government and development partners.
Dr. Edu lamented the continued closure of over 400 schools in the state, which has forced over 11,000 pupils and students out of their classrooms as she called for immediate action to ameliorate the situation.
The Minister commended the state governor, Muhammed Umaru Bago, for continued payment of the displaced teachers’ salaries, encouraging them to continue to teach children under the new transit class rooms provided by the government and UNICEF at temporal holding sites.
Dr. Edu expressed optimism that peace will soon return to communities affected by banditry, and displaced persons will return to their homes.
“We will help you resettle appropriately.
“The Federal Government is considering options of providing a resettlement center in the interim where IDPs can resettle and vacate the school premises they are presently occupying so that our children can return to their classes”
“The current staggering figure of out of school children in Nigeria is not good for the country. As you know, education is the foundation, and if we must fight poverty, we must return our children to school because that is the key and the beginning of ending the circle of poverty.
“As a government, we will do all we can to tackle the problem from the root cause so that they can continue with their education.”
Speaking earlier, Niger State First Lady, Hajia Fatima Umaru Bago, commended the Minister and President Tinubu for their interest in the humanitarian needs of the people of the state and Nigeria.
“These Internally Displaced Persons need help, and we have to find a way to bring an end to insecurity in our state. Once there is security, the poverty level will be largely reduced. We have heard and felt the message of Renewed Hope brought to us in Niger state’’ the First Lady said.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Ahmed Baba Suleiman, said that 29,774 people have been displaced by bandits in the state.
The figure, according to him, comprised 7,650 women, 3,201 men, and 11,113 out-of-school children in addition to 108 people with special needs across 11 local government areas.
He however appealed to the federal government for immediate intervention and collaboration with the state to reduce the humanitarian challenges and poverty, displaced victims of banditry are facing in the state.
