FEC calls for security beef-up in IDP camps

*Approves new policy to tackle poverty, sets 2050 agenda

*Okays N2.1bn for Nigerian Content House maintenance

*Approves N665m for poultry farmers in four states

Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

To forestall attacks by bandits, the Federal Government has asked security agencies to beef up security in and around Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk, disclosed this to State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

She spoke against the background of the attack by criminals suspected to be herdsmen on the Abagana IDP camp in Benue State, which led to the death of seven persons.

Farouk said her ministry was working assiduously to alleviate the suffering of the IDPs and facilitate their return to their homes.

She said, “Really a very sad development and I’m sure the security agencies are on top of it. What I can say is that there should be enhanced security around these areas where we have these incessant attacks.

“For us in the ministry, we do our best to see that these displaced people are being supported and catered for while we work towards returning them back to their communities.”

Also briefing, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, announced that FEC approved a facility maintenance contract for the Nigerian Content House, Yenagoa at the cost of N2.1billion.
The contract was awarded to Messrs Megastar Nigeria Ltd.

Sylvia stated that the other memo approved for his ministry was for the operations and maintenance of a 10 megawatts power plant also in Yenagoa.

“Council also graciously approved the operations and maintenance contract for the sum of N712 million for two years. All the contract that were presented today before Council were for an initial period of two years,” he said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama said FEC adopted a National Diaspora Policy engineered by the Nigerian Diaspora Commission chaired by Mrs Abike Dabiri.

“This policy really is aimed at formalising and giving a structure to the relationship between the country and government and the Nigerians in the diaspora, of which, you know, the 17 or more million Nigerians in the diaspora, and they constitute a very, very important part of the Nigerian community.

“This policy aims to promote national development through engagement, constructive engagement with the Nigerians in the diaspora.

“In fact, for them to really be an integral part of the march towards greater development, as well as utilising all these skills and all the resources that they have,” he said.

Also worried by the poverty level in the country, the FEC on Wednesday approved a new policy, the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), to tackle the situation.

The approval followed the debate over the draft policy submitted by the Presidential Economic Advisory Council some weeks ago to FEC.

The Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) to the President, Femi Adesina, disclosed this to the State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Adesina said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) is to chair the Steering Committee of the new policy in order to provide overall guidance for implementation.

He said council also approved the strategy’s incorporation into the medium term National Development Plan 2021-2025 and Agenda 2050 and directed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to prepare a bill for submission to the National Assembly to make the implementation of the strategy sustainable.

Adesina said, “The Presidential Economic Advisory Council had some weeks back submitted the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy to the Federal Executive Council, and it was widely debated today, and eventually passed as a conclusion.

“And these are some of the things; the Federal Executive Council noted the worsening poverty situation in the country and the efforts of the federal government to redress that situation.

“It’s not as if government is not aware that there is poverty in the land but things are being done. One of it is this National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy that was presented today.”

Adesins said the Federal Government was desirous of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years as promised by the President.

“The council also noted that the President applied to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. Actually, by June 12 this year, that promise will be two years old. It was noted that it is work in progress, and it is work that will get done.

“The council noted that the President has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and the chairman Presidential Economic Advisory Council on the need to come up with a sustainable poverty reduction strategy. And that strategy is what is already codified in this volume and it was widely discussed and passed.

“The council noted the contributions of stakeholders, comments and observations made by FEC members on this volume and the presentation of the NPRGS has been duly incorporated into the strategy.

“They also noted the final articulation of a two volume, National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, and its major pillars.

“The strategy is encapsulated in these two volumes, which you may need to get familiar with the contents of the strategy.

“A national steering committee, chaired by the Vice President is to provide overall guidance for the implementation of this strategy in these two volumes.”

The FEC has also approved an augmentation of N665 million for the procurement of poultry equipment for displaced poultry farmers in Borno, Yobe, Plateau and Zamfara States.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouk, disclosed this when she briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Council meeting, chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja on Wednesday.

She said: “Today, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development presented a memo to Council on behalf of National Emergency Management Agency seeking the approval of Council for the revised estimated cost and augmentation on contracts for the procurement of poultry equipment for Borno, Plateau, Yobe and Zamfara States that were affected by conflicts in 2019.

“This memo was earlier approved at the council meeting of Wednesday, March 20, 2019, and the contract was not executed due to price increase and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The contractors said they won’t be able to really execute the contract because of price increases and so we had to go back to Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) for variations.

“We got the approval of BPP and now we came to Council and presented the memo and the Council graciously approved the variation.’’