NAN-H-82
Initiative
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Nov. 18, 2016 (NAN) Mrs Angele Dikongue-Atangana, Country Representative to Nigeria, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), says the agency has aligned its shelter project in Benue with its Songhai Agriculture business initiative.
Dikongue-Atangana disclosed this at the inauguration and handing-over of the Daudu Shelter Project for IDPs in Guma Local Government Area of Benue to the state government on Friday.
The 100- unit bungalow project was initiated by UNHCR in collaboration with the state government and Benue Non-governmental Organisation Network (BENGONET).
The project is meant to provide shelter for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
The UNHCR representative said that the Songhai initiative was a programme that ensured that people could farm, rear fish and animals in order to make a living.
According to her, not only would they have food to eat but they would also have enough to cater for a living.
She called on the Benue Government to take the initiative and ensure that it was disseminated to other parts of Nigeria.
Dikongue-Atangana said that agriculture was the future of Africa, adding that if Africa must fly, the initiative must start in Nigeria.
“So, we thought to make it fulfilled; we have aligned this project with the Songhai Initiative and some two weeks ago, some of you went to Benin Republic to see for ourselves what it all means.
“It is a sort of Creek Culture business which aligns environmental-friendly techniques with the latest scientific and technology advancement to ensure that people can do farming and make a living out of it.
“What I will treasure is that we will inaugurate the steering committee that will ensure that this village is taken through that process of making Songhai a living process in this place.
“That is why my drive has been that we need to join hands in order to make sure that Nigeria is on the right track so that Africa will stand a fair chance of being on the right track.
“Take this as a token contribution of my agency and the government of this state to ensure that we take the Nigerian agenda and therefore the African agenda forward,’’ she said.
The representative said the Guma Shelter Project was not just a shelter facility but an advocacy signpost for all stakeholders, especially the state government.
She added that the project was also a testimony of good collaboration of UNHCR and the entire UN systems with the state government as well as the community.
“We thought it would be better that we also help finding some lasting solutions and that was the whole cause of building a village.
“As you see it here, it is not only about village, it is about having people to be protected, having a roof over their heads, especially when you talk about vulnerable women and children.
“Having a roof over their heads is where their protection starts but then if they are sitting under the roof with nothing to eat, nothing to make a living out of, then your purpose might not be fulfilled,’’ she said.
Dikongue-Atangana called on the government to further help the IDPs by providing 400 small-sized mattresses, 400 wooden plank beds, 400 blankets and 200 cooking pots.
Other items needed, according to her, include 200 charcoal stoves, 400 plastic buckets, 200 jerry cans of 20 litres and solar powered lanterns.
She said that as a maiden effort, they estimated to have a total of 180 households variously occupying the facility in the next few days and that most of the IDPs had already moved in.
Mrs Rachel Ityozunghaul, Chairman, BENCONET Rural Development Initiative, said the project was completed at the cost of N35.8 million.
According to her, this comprises N25.8 million from UNHCR and N10 million counterpart funding from the state government.
Ityozunghaul said the project comprised 100 units of two-room bungalow with toilet facility, first aid facility and borehole.
She called on the state government to provide the IDPs with social security service of N5, 000 per family in the first three months to enable them settle down with something to eat.
The chairman also requested the government to speak to the commissioner of police in the state to open an outpost within the camp and also help the children to go to school.
She commended the government for providing the needed counterpart funding for the network and creating a level-playing field for them in their partnership with UNHCR. (NAN)
OYS/AK/OPI
Edited by Akin Makanjuola and Olisa Ifeajika