Senate leadership visit IDPs’ camp, presents relief materials worth N10 million

The leadership of the Nigeria Senate led by the Senate President Senator Ibrahim Ahmad Lawan on Thursday visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Wassa, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

While at the IDPs’ camp, Senate President presented relief materials which comprised of
clothing materials, food items, toiletries worth N10 million.

Senate President was accompanied by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Bello Muhammad and the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.

The visit on Thursday which has members of the National Refugees Commission in attendance, was part of the 9th Senate’s second year anniversary celebration.

In his speech, Lawan encouraged the IDPs to have hope in the nation, stating that their lives would bounce back to nomalcy again.

He acknowledged that insecurity in which they were victims was a concern of all Nigerians, which the legislative arm of government was not resting on its oars.

In tackling the insecurity challenges, he noted, Senate would ensure in focusing on other areas that matter to Nigerians including, but not limited to providing an electoral climate in which Nigerians could freely elect their leaders and representatives.

He further told the IDPs that Senate would also work assiduously to review the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to ensure governance was improved upon for Nigerians to continue to enjoy its diversity and utilise its vast endowments.

According to him, Senate will not abandon the IDPs in time of their travails, hence, the visit was a demonstration of Senate’s conscious decision to them part of the anniversary celebration.

“This is an Internally Displaced Peoples’ Camp, none of our brothers and sisters in this camp wanted to be here or wished to be here.

“All of them are forced to be in an IDP camp, the rest of us who are not in this camp and those of us especially in leadership positions are supposed to show empathy and commitment.

“First, ensuring that while these our compatriots are in this camp and indeed in any other camp, that their life is protected.

“Their dignity is protected and of course, we must ensure that these Nigerians in this camp and indeed in all other refugee camps or IDPs camp who are vulnerable in so many ways receive what is due to them from government.

Senate President called for serious protection of IDPs, while asking the government to.continue to do what is right.

He further noted that provision of health facilities would be of interest to the Senate, adding that the Executive should implement policies that have been put in place for IDPs.