| *Task of rebuilding homes, restoring livelihoods require patience
The task of rebuilding homes and restoring livelihoods in communities destroyed in violent conflicts requires patience and cooperation of all, but the time of suffering is ending and the people in those communities will soon be rejoicing, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this today when he visited the Gbajimba IDP camp, on the second day of his working visit to Benue State.
In continuation of his two-day visit to the IDPs in Benue, the Vice President visited two camps today, including the one in Anyiin in Logo Local Government area of the State.
According to him, “I want to say to you that although you have been through difficulties and have suffered a lot, in the nearest future, you will have reasons to rejoice.”
“Our duty is that you return to your homes and be sure you are safe. When the President came in March, he promised to do an assessment, and that has been done. President Buhari has approved N10Billion for rehabilitation of places destroyed including in Benue.”
“However it is not an easy task, because there are so many people to be taken care of, so you will have to be patient and be ready to work with government.”
While commending Governor Ortom for his efforts, Prof Osinbajo encouraged the people saying: “we must make sure this State remains the food basket of the country. So once you have returned safely, let us take advantage of the Anchor Borrowers programme and make this State even better.”
“We intend to do our duty to the best of our ability. Farming is major occupation here, and it is our duty to provide you with the assistance needed to return to your farms. The President is committed to ensuring all we have said, including children returning to school.”
The Vice President said the Federal Government was implementing several components of the Social Investment Programmes and would scale up implementation to address the hardship facing the people.
He said: “the N-power programme in Benue State had engaged 8,000 graduates and would engage over 8,000 more in the forthcoming second phase of the N-Power.
“In the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, so far in Benue State, we have engaged over 5000 cooks feeding 745,000 pupils in schools across the state.
“We have also given some micro credit loans to market women, traders and artisans, and we are going to increase the figures to accommodate those returning to their farms.”
He told the IDPs that he was at the camp to get a first-hand feel of their condition, to assess security in the state in preparation for their return home, and to see how to provide ways of restoring what was lost, especially for farmers and those involved in trading, artisans and market women.
Gov. Ortom speaking at Anyiin camp, commended President Buhari for the March 12 visit to Benue, and praised VP Osinbajo for his uncommon passion and humanity, noting that the Vice President was with them in the IDP camps, even though the Federal Executive Council meeting was taking place the same day.
Prof Osinbajo has since returned to Abuja and is presiding over a meeting of the National Economic Council Sub-Committee in the Presidential Villa. |
L-R; Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Benue State Governor, Mr. Ortom Samuel Acknowledging Cheers from Benue Children during Osinbajo’s Visit to the State.
