Insurgency: Plateau seeks equal treatment with North East in rebuilding, rehabilitation

Plateau State Government on Thursday called on the Federal Government to give Plateau equal treatment with North East in its efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate areas worst hit by insurgency and other disasters.

Gov Simon Lalong made the call in Jos when a team from the Presidential Committee on Flood, Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR) visited him.

Secretary to the Government of Plateau Rufus Bature, who received the committee on behalf of the governor said that Plateau was terribly hit by natural and man made disasters.

“We are calling on the Federal Government to look at Plateau with passion just the way they are looking at the North East.

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“Plateau has been devastated with both natural and man made disasters such as floods crises and insurgency.
“Therefore other committees outside the flood should consider Plateau because what has happened in North has happened and is still happening in Plateau.
“Many people have lost their lives, many people have lost their homes, many people have lost their relatives and many people have lost their farms,” he said.

He said that the state government lacks funds to contain the situation and therefore called on the Federal Government to help the state settle the people who have lost their homes and properties.

The governor, however, appreciated the PCFRR for the construction of a befitting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) hostels and complementary facilities in Shendam.
“Our happiness knows no bound because of this relief that that you have brought for those who were devastated by flood.
“For the Federal Government to have brought succour to the people of Plateau we are most grateful.
“We will ensure that the structures are put to the best use for the benefit of the people”,

Mr John Owoicho, the PCFRR team leader said that the committee was constituted by former President Goodluck Jonathan to help mitigate the sufferings of persons displaced by flood and other disasters.

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Owoicho said that after the 2012 flood which affected almost all the 36 states, the committee began the construction of two blocks of hostels for IDPs in 24 states that were worst hit.

He said that one of the two blocks of hostels for Plateau which is a one storey building was completed and that they were in the state hand over to the state government to secure it pending the commissioning.

Executive Secretary, Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA )Alhassan Barde, said that the PCFRR gesture would address extreme humanitarian conditions that IDPs go through.

Barde said that with the hostels, it would reduce over dependence on schools, worship centres and individual homes as places of refuge by persons affected by disasters.

“This indeed our project and we believe this will go a long way to provide accommodation and succour to most of our IDPs who are living with host communities,” he said.