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The House of Representatives at the Tuesday plenary session called for provision of relief materials for over 100,000 Nigerian refugees who are currently residing in Niger Republic.
The resolution was passed in response to the motion sponsored by Bukar Gana, who expressed concern over the plight of innocent Nigerians especially women and children, who were displaced from their ancestral homes by Boko Haram.
In his lead debate, Bukar Gana called for urgent action towards addressing the “deplorable conditions of Nigerians from Abadam and Mobbar Local Government Areas of Borno State who have been forced to migrate become refugees in neighboring Niger Republic due to the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.
“The House is aware that it is destabilizing for one to be forced out of one’s home community and become totally dependent on others for help and when that help does not come, the level of misery is increased.
“The House also notes that at present there are over 100,000 refugees residing in Niger Republic majority of whom are from Abadam, Guzamala, Mobbar and Kukawa areas of Borno State.
“The House further notes that some time ago, the Prime Minister of Niger Republic visited some of those camps in Garin Dogo, Tumur,siem, Ga’amari and Diffa province during which he made a categorical statement that Niger Republic can no longer cope with the numbers of Nigerians crossing to the country as the humanitarian crisis is beyond their means.
“The House is also aware that the Borno State Government had been making efforts in providing some assistance which have not been enough to cushion the effects of the refugee crisis.
“The House is concerned about the precarious situation of women and children in those camps who are vulnerable to anti-social vices and all manners of sickness and the growing numbers of Nigerian refugees in Niger Republic, if not addressed urgently may result in an outbreak of epidemic and serious humanitarian crisis that may further escalate the already troubling security situation.
“The House is aso concerned that lately, the refugees have been facing food, medicals and water challenges due to the suspension of assistance by International Organizations that were hitherto providing such materials,” Gana stressed.
To this end, the House urged National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Presidential Committee on Northeast Initiative (PCNI) to provide relief materials to the refugees.
The House also mandated the Committees on Internally Displaced Persons, Refugees (IDPs) and Initiatives on North East Zone and Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to ensure compliance.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
