The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has flagged off the harvest of the Renewed Hope Empowerment Project (REHAEPI) in Jere, Borno State.
The Minister performed the ceremony in the company of the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, and other dignitaries from the federal and state governments during his official visit to Borno State.
This was revealed in a statement signed by the Ministry’s Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Iliya Rhoda Ishaku, on Wednesday.
The agricultural project was initiated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The farm covers about 150 hectares of land donated by the Borno State Government and cultivated by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), with beans as the main crop.
Prof. Yilwatda commended the Borno State Government, the Commission, and the Consultant of the project, Chief Samuel Pukat, Chairman of PS Foodmaster Nigeria Limited, for the initiative.
He stated that the farming model represents a global best practice for providing sustainable and durable solutions for IDPs that go beyond humanitarian aid. He added that such a farming model will be replicated for refugees in Nigeria.
According to him, durable solutions improve livelihoods, build hope, and provide economic empowerment to displaced persons.
In another event, the Minister distributed food items to over 300 households in Amaruwa Resettlement City, Konduga, Borno State.
He reassured the IDPs that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is aware of their challenges and that his administration is making every effort to address the plight of vulnerable persons in society.
During his courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, the Minister expressed condolences to the government and people of the state over the 2024 flood disaster and prayed against future occurrences.
He revealed that the Ministry will launch the Humanitarian Response Plan in 2025 and ensure that Borno State will be part of the Humanitarian Response Plan Committee.
He assured that the Ministry will continue to work with the state, not only on issues related to IDPs but also on the return of Nigerian refugees to the country.
The Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, congratulated the Minister on his appointment.
He said the state is working to resettle all displaced persons in a dignified and sustainable manner. He also reaffirmed the state’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to repatriate Nigerian refugees back to their ancestral homes.
A 40-year-old beneficiary of the food items in Amaruwa Resettlement City, Konduga, Mr. Garba Sheriff, expressed gratitude to the President, the Ministry, and the NCFRMI for the kind gesture. He said the food items will significantly reduce their suffering as IDPs.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Honourable Federal Commissioner, Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, and his entourage, Directors of the Ministry, top officials of the State Government, Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding, Dr. Yetunde Adeniji, Special Assistants to the Minister, and Chief Samuel Pukat, Consultant of the project and Chairman of PS Foodmaster Nigeria Limited, among others.
