PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ASSURES THAT NIGERIA'S INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS WOULD RETURN HOME IN 2016

PRES. BUHARI AND DAVID MILIBAND

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari today, Wednesday gave assurance that the internally displaced persons (IDP) resulting from the Boko Haram insurgency would return to their home communities next year.

Speaking in Abuja with the former British Foreign Minister, Mr. David Miliband who led a delegation from the International Rescue Committee (IRC), President Buhari said that his administration will ensure the resettlement of over two million internally displaced persons in their towns and villages. He said the government would appreciate the support of the IRC and other local and international non-governmental organizations for the exercise.

The President informed the IRC delegation that there was an urgent need for support in the areas of agricultural inputs, health, nutrition, water and sanitation. He extended an invitation to the IRC and other international agencies to work in liaison with the Presidential Committee on the North-East and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) which, he informed the delegation, were already assisting significantly in catering for the IDPs and restoring basic infrastructure in the communities hit by terrorism and insurgency.

Responding, Mr. Miliband told President Buhari that the IRC will increase its ongoing work in Nigeria which had already assisted over 350,000 displaced persons, in the Adamawa and Borno states. He advised that adequate security personnel and equipment be stationed in the recovered towns and territories as many displaced persons still feared for their still feared for their safety on return to their homes.