***Says Bandits, flood have wreck havoc in the state
The Niger State House of Assembly has urged the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to ensure that the welfare and wellbeing of all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) as a result of Banditry and floods across the state is given adequate attention it deserved.
The Speaker Rt. Hon Abdulmalik Sarkindaji gave the indication in his office in Minna on Monday when the Director General of the agency, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah led other management team on a courtesy call.
The Speaker, who decried the activities of Bandits in the state and the effect of flood disaster that has rendered thousands of people homeless, asked the agency not to leave any stone unturned in ensuring that all the Internally Displaced Persons in the state are given the sense of belonging.
Sarkindaji disclosed that Niger state is among states that are worst hit in terms of Bandits activities and flood disaster, stressing that their current predicament was not their making adding that they deserved love, care and attention.
An estimated 7,000 persons are said to be taking refuge in IDP camps across seven local government areas of the state due to bandits activities and flood disaster.
The Speaker who appealed to the Federal Government to come to the rescue of the state by providing some relief materials for the vulnerable ones, urged the agency to ensure that the little the state government can provide gets to the targeted beneficiaries.
He assured the agency that the 10th assembly will give it the necessary support to enable it discharge the all important responsibility to the people, adding that “our doors are opened for you and the assembly is ready to give you all the supports to ensure that you succeed.
“We are the representatives of the people and therefore their welfare is a priority to us. We feel concerned about the plights of the IDPs in the state and we will give the agency the necessary legislative supports”.
Earlier, the Director General of the agency, Alhaji Baba Arah told the Speaker that he was in the state house of assembly with his management team to solicit for the support of the legislatures towards achieving it’s overall goal of catering and providing for those affected by one disaster or the other in the state.
He disclosed that there are internally displaced persons across the seven local government areas of the state who enerstly need relief materials, saying that majority of the these people are victims of Banditry and flood disaster.