From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, on Monday supervised the disbursement of N1.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to 1,579 victims of attacks in five local government areas of the state.
The beneficiaries were drawn from the most affected communities in Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas.
The intervention comprises N1 billion donated by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, through her Renewed Hope Initiative, and N500 million contributed by the Plateau State Government.
Speaking at the ceremony, Yilwatda, who recounted his personal experience of displacement during the crises in Plateau, said he understood the pains of victims because he had also lost friends, neighbours and relations to violence.
“I have been a victim of attacks, I know how it feels. I lost friends, I lost neighbours, I lost relations in a crisis. So I know how it feels, and when I look into your faces, I can see your pains,” he said.
He, however, assured the displaced persons that there would be light at the end of the tunnel despite the intermittent crises in the state.
“I want you to know that in the midst of our tears, in the midst of the ashes of our homes, God will raise a momentum that will cause this force of darkness on our lives to end,” he said.
Yilwatda commended Mrs Tinubu for responding to the plight of victims, saying the intervention demonstrated that their cries had been heard.
“I want to thank the First Lady of Nigeria for coming through for us. She has said that she has heard our voices. She has heard your cry.
“I know that no amount of money, no amount of cheque can bring back your life. No amount of money can bring back that integrity that you lost,” he said.
He urged the beneficiaries to use the assistance judiciously to rebuild their livelihoods, families and communities.
“The little you have, you can invest it and build new lives. You can do grocery, farming. We can do businesses,” he said.
Mutfwang, who also offered words of hope to the beneficiaries, described the occasion as an opportunity to acknowledge the suffering of families whose lives had been permanently altered by violence.
“Families lost their loved ones. Many houses were destroyed. People were forced to leave places they called home.
“To everyone affected, we see you, we acknowledge you, we stand with you and we will never forget you,” the governor said.
Mutfwang praised the First Lady for the N1 billion donation, saying the combined N1.5 billion intervention represented a demonstration of compassion and solidarity with affected communities.
“Today, a combined N1.5 billion in humanitarian assistance, N1 billion donated by Her Excellency, the First Lady of Nigeria, the Mother of the Nation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and N500 million by the Plateau State Government,” he said.
The governor said the intervention could not replace lives lost or completely erase the trauma suffered by victims.
“No amount of money can bring back a father, or a mother, or a child, or a brother, or a sister,” he said.
He added that the assistance could provide immediate relief and enable affected families to begin rebuilding their lives.
“What this assistance can do is to provide immediate relief. It can help the family begin again. It can help the people recover a life of dignity. It can help the household meet urgent needs.
“My administration remains committed to ensuring that the intervention gets to those genuinely affected by the attacks. We are committed that this intervention gets to those affected,” Mutfwang said.
He also pledged to continue working towards creating the conditions necessary for internally displaced persons (IDPs) to safely return to their ancestral homes.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Kachollom Pyam Gang, said the N1.5 billion intervention was designed to support families and communities affected by violent attacks in Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu and Riyom local government areas.
On the selection of beneficiaries, Gang said the state government had earlier established an inter-ministerial committee to identify victims of displacement in order to ensure transparency and fairness.
“Prior to the establishment of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Plateau State Government had set up an inter-ministerial committee to handle the identification of victims for this displacement. This was to ensure transparency and fairness,” she said.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to the First Lady for the N1 billion intervention through the Renewed Hope Initiative and commended Mutfwang for the additional N500 million contribution.
She added that, apart from supporting affected individuals and families, part of the funds would be used to execute community projects in the affected areas.
(The Sun)
