Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State on Thursday distributed livelihood support packages to 5,293 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, who returned to their base at Gaidam, Yunusari, Gujba, and Gulani local government areas of the state.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the items donated include 300 animal traction packages, ram fattening, goat breeding, fish farming items, chicken production materials, artisanal fishing materials, improved seeds package and dignity kit packages.
According to the distribution guidelines, one set of animal traction kit per two persons, three rams per person as well as four goats per person.
During the flag-off of the distribution ceremony, the governor disclosed that the items were donated by the state government in conjunction with the African Development Bank under the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement, and Livelihood Improvement Support, APPEALS, Project.
“In all, 5,293 people from the four local government areas will benefit,” the governor said.
The governor, therefore, advised the beneficiaries to put the materials into proper use for their own maximum benefits, warning them to avoid selling the materials off under whatever pretext.
“During the last decade, however, attacks on communities by the insurgents have resulted in the destruction of public and private property worth billions of naira, and the killing, maiming and displacement of many innocent people.
“Prior to, and even with the outbreak of the Boko Haram Insurgency, our people are known for their industry and productivity, especially in the area of agricultural productions.
“There is no question that the people of these four local government areas are among the worst-hit by the senseless Boko Haram Insurgency in the whole of the North-East part of the country.
“As peace steadily returns across the state, I want to commend the African Development Bank and the implementers of the APPEALS Project as well as other development partners for their thoughtfulness in integrating various livelihood support packages in their programmes of activity,” the governor stated.
Mr Buni also assured the people that the program would be expanded to cover more local governments, saying that “we would work with the African Development Bank to ensure the expansions needed to cover more areas”.
“Let me reiterate that our administration is committed to uplifting the welfare of our people.
“We will, therefore, continue to collaborate with all our partners towards the attainment of our goals.”
“I wish to emphasize that no meaningful development could be achieved without peace.
“In this regard, I would like to reiterate my deep appreciation on the renewed determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to end the Boko Haram Insurgency, kidnapping and other security challenges bedevilling the country.
“I would also like to commend the gallantry of the men and women of our armed forces and other security agencies,” Mr Buni stressed.
The governor also commended the achievements recorded by the APPEALS project for their initiatives in combating desertification by proposing livelihood support items in Abaridi town and Bukarti of Karasuwa and Yunusari local government areas respectively.
