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By Chinyere Anyanwu, [email protected]
Hopes of better lives for over six million internally displaced persons (IDPs) as the federal government has launched agric empowerment programme for them.
The IDPs are products of ongoing internal conflicts, armed banditry and natural disasters.
In response to this crisis, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), under the leadership of Federal Commissioner Tijani Ahmed, has initiated a comprehensive agricultural empowerment project.
The initiative, named the Renewed Hope Agricultural Empowerment Project for Internally Displaced Persons (REHAEPI), aims to support 1,000 IDP farmers in its first phase across Borno, Nasarawa, and Plateau states. These farmers will benefit from a dual-purpose scheme: they will retain part of their produce for subsistence while selling the surplus to humanitarian agencies, such as NCFRMI, NEMA, NEDC, and private sector partners.
Speaking at the project’s launch in Loko, Nasarawa State, Tijani Ahmed highlighted the broader efforts to support IDPs. “Nigeria’s large population and competition for resources, exacerbated by climate change, have led to significant internal displacement,” he said. “We have made significant strides in providing sustainable housing, completing resettlement cities in Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Nasarawa, and Kano, with plans to expand to Benue, Cross River, Niger, Sokoto, and the FCT.”
The commission’s resettlement efforts also include constructing additional housing in Borno State to accommodate IDPs and repatriated Nigerian refugees from Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. Additionally, vocational and skills acquisition centers with fully equipped boarding facilities are being established across the six geopolitical zones to empower IDPs with essential skills for self-sufficiency.
Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture, emphasized the critical humanitarian crisis facing the nation. “Countless citizens have been displaced and deprived of their livelihoods,” he remarked. “Agriculture has the potential to be a lifeline for these vulnerable populations. By equipping IDPs with necessary skills and resources, we can help them rebuild their lives and contribute to our nation’s development.”
The REHAEPI project underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by IDPs, fostering their productive engagement, and reintegrating them into society. Through collaborative efforts, the initiative seeks to create sustainable opportunities and restore hope for millions of displaced Nigerians.
