Supporting IDPs in North East

Tomorrow Thursday 27th August 2015, a historic event will be holding at the Banquet Hall, NAF Conference Centre, Abuja organised by the Daily Trust. It is an advocacy, and a public fund raising in support of internally displaced persons in Nigeria’s North East. This initiative is a reflection of the concern by management and staff […]

Tomorrow Thursday 27th August 2015, a historic event will be holding at the Banquet Hall, NAF Conference Centre, Abuja organised by the Daily Trust. It is an advocacy, and a public fund raising in support of internally displaced persons in Nigeria’s North East. This initiative is a reflection of the concern by management and staff Media Trust Limited and indeed many other Nigerians over the plight of our compatriots.
Within the most affected areas of the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, there are an approximate 1.7million displaced persons (about 1.4million within Nigeria, and 0.3million in the neighbouring countries). There are also other millions of people who, though not displaced, are living under sub-human, held captives by the insurgents and deprived basic means of livelihoods. Additionally, there are hundreds of rural households that were unable to cultivate crops for several years and therefore completely lack means of sustenance. Additionally, livestock including cattle, sheep and goats have been confiscated by the insurgents. Indeed, over 50% of Nigeria’s cattle population within the Lake Chad Basin have migrated to Cameroon and Chad, depleting Nigeria’s livestock resources. Other livestock breeders who remained within Nigeria are now over-concentrated in the few available grazing areas in Gombe, Bauchi and central parts of Adamawa, with enormous negative effects on productivity.
Indeed, the level of catastrophe and destruction of people’s livelihoods caused by the insurgency is immeasurable. Throughout the nearly six years of these crisis, the citizens of the affected areas have demonstrated high level of resilience. Families and communities have supported each other. The wealthy within these States had shown high level of magnanimity and generosity. The governments of the three states had devoted significant portions of their State resources in supporting the victims. And indeed, many Nigerians and the international community, as well as the governments and people of the neighbouring countries provided substantial assistance.
It is highly gratifying that the entire Nigerian citizens are now being called upon, in an organised manner, to collectively contribute towards supporting and empathising with their fellow citizens who remained victims of the ruthless aggression for five years. With the integrity of Media Trust, the organisers of this fund raising, as well as the calibre of dignitaries leading the launching, one is convinced that this event will record historic success.
Some of the most successful fund raising events are not those that largely rely on large donors alone. Small donations by an entire citizens, especially on a continuous basis can generate enormous resources. In these times of online banking, social media and other online platforms for making donations, the sky will be the limit for Media Trust in galvanising Nigerians to support this process. Indeed, enormous resources are required. Happily Nigeria’s friends and governments all over the world are contributing. The current Nigerian Federal Government under the dynamic leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is not only waging the military war, but also waging the humanitarian war. Already, the General T. Y. Danjuma-led Presidential Committee is reported to have raised about N23billion, and the Federal Government is providing an additional N5billion. It is now time for all of us to buy-in, and donate generously through this platform provided to us by Media Trust.
As earlier stated, there are about 2million internally displaced persons. If everyone of them is to require a daily assistance of N250.00 only, that will translate to N1billion daily, and N30billion monthly, only as stipends for subsistence. What then about rebuilding shelter, reclaiming abandoned farm fields, restocking stolen livestock, and getting new inputs for cropping like seeds? The need is enormous, but certainly not beyond the capacity of Nigerians. If only one million Nigerians will buy-in and accept to contribute N500 per day, that will translate to a monthly contribution of N15,000.Indeed, I believe, this is conveniently affordable to a million Nigerians. With this continuous contribution of N500, the sum of N500million will be raised daily, and if this donation is consistently made for a month, that will be N15 billion monthly. Surely with this, and joining hands with all others, we all can contribute in rebuilding the livelihoods of the affected communities of Northeastern Nigeria. Indeed, in my view, this is a duty, this is a responsibility. I appeal to Media Trust and the facilitators to create a friendly platform for a continuous contribution in support of this initiative until our compatriots in Northeastern Nigeria are fully rehabilitated. I urge all Nigerians, particularly those versatile with the social media to take up this challenge by advocating and mobilising Nigerians to massively support the fund raising and make it a historic success.
Momale, Centre for Dyland Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano is also the Ag. Executive Director of The Pastoral Resolve (PARE)