Since the appointement of Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouk as Minister of Humanitatian Services, Social Development and Disaster Management, the glaring political will by the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to manage natural occurrences, metamorphosed into a boost in agriculture and human capital developement.
In her new zeal to ensure a crises free nation across all states, the Minister had not rested on her oars to ensure the enabling environment is put in place, even at the slightest occurence of any of this incidence.
This she had done , including the unnatural occurences of man made which include armed banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and to crown it all, the recurring activities of Boko Haram insurgents and others.
Mrs Sadiya’s efforts is not only to provide, palliatives or succour to the affected people, communities or areas, but identify their vocation and key into it, to ensure there is no backlash in the area of economic engagements.
This also include international collaboration to address the growing and unabated attacks by hoodlums in connivance with foreign mercenaries across boarders known as the Multi-sectoral crises project (MCRP), currently being implemented in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States through Lake Chad Region Recovery and Developement Project (PROLAC).
The 200 Million Dollar World Bank project span till 2024 is expected to resolve human and other related crises through the North East Development Commission (NEDC).
Sadiya’s passion to address the recovery efforts arising from the devastating effects of Boko Haram and other insurgents, so as to chart a new course for the war ravaged areas through (MCRP/PROLAC).
The recovery efforts by the Minister is to revert the area to the natural efforts of its people, towards boost in agriculture, industrialisation, that will pave way for investors both local and foreign to create bumper employment and engagements for Nigerians.
This programme is also scattered all around the country from Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto through provision of palliative, farm inputs to mitigate the effects of both natural and artificial phenomenon.
Her efforts did not leave behind the North Central States of Kogi, Benue, Nassarawa and other riverine areas which were bedevilled by both natural effects of flooding, a recurring yearly decimal that had destroyed farm lands and products.
The recent distribution of 114,315 bags of different products of fertilisers both to Kogi farmers and palliatives as well as the flooded local government areas of Kogi, Lokoja, Omala, Idah, Ibaji and Igala-Mela to revert the biting effects of the natural disaster by the Minister, speaks volumes of her efforts to address such critical issues.
Aside distribution of palliatives for COVID-19 and victims of floodings, Mrs Farouk also carry out a Conditional Cash Transfer(CCT), programmes, an arm of the Social Investement Program (SIP), to address the biting effects of COVID-19, as well as mitigate the effects of poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment and guarantee self sustenance.
During the visit to Kogi state, Sadiya appealed to the people of the state to be wary of this year’s forecast of flooding in 2020, while stressing the need for governments and other stakeholders including individuals to carry out proactive measures to reduce to the barest minimum, the possible effects of the natural disaster.
Because of her idea of matching words for action, her visit to Kogi State gave so much hope and confidence to the people of the state, as well as the concerted efforts of the goverment to ameliorate the post COVID-19 global situation.
The Minister’s visit to Kogi had also restore hope and confidence in governance and goverrment efforts to ensure both social and economic activities.
Abubakar Yusuf Is a Media Consultant and writes from Abuja
