Laleye Dipo in Minna
The federal government is to resettle victims of banditry and terrorism in Niger and five other states, the Minister of Information Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi has disclosed in Minna the Niger state capital.
The other states, according to Malagi, are Katsina Kaduna Zamfara Benue and Kebbi .
The minister said the programme will entail the construction of houses, clinics, schools, veterinary hospitals and provision of solar energy and inauguration of empowerment schemes for members of the communities in the state that have been under the siege of bandits and terrorists for years.
Speaking at the opening of the Jamatu Nasril Islam Central Council Meeting at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre in Minna, the minister said the initiative is the government’s non-kinetic approach to solving the problems faced by the people who are gradually emerging from the grip of terrorists and bandits
“The initiative is President Tinubu’s unique humanitarian response to the effects of banditry in our communities. It will be implemented in Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger and Benue states,” the minister said.
He said President Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria “is all-encompassing and is encapsulated in his Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to reform the economy, guarantee national security, achieve food security, unlock our natural resources potential, build infrastructure, with focus on health, and social investment, as well as accelerate diversification and innovation, and improve governance delivery.”
Malagi said the 2024 Renewed Hope Budget tacitly captures the scale of the national transformation that the Bola Tinubu administration is pursuing, which includes fiscal foreign exchange, and tax reforms, expansion of the national social register” before asking the various communities to be fully abreast of the N75 billion Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme and Palliative Programmes, which targets One Nano Businesses across the country, with grants of up to N50,000 targeting traders, artisans, transporters, etc..
He said the President is appreciative of the role played by the Sultan of Sokoto who is also the President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to douse the tension created by the bombing of citizens in Tudun biri Kaduna state last week
“Your Excellency, Your royal Highnesses, distinguished guests, your collective efforts are highly appreciated in helping to calm frayed nerves in the aftermath of the unfortunate Tudun Biri incident. May Allah bless your efforts.”
In his speech the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Said Abubakar said the organisation will not rest until justice is done to the victims of the Tudun Biri bombing mishap.
“ As I have said on Friday when we visited Kanfanchan the place of the incident, luckily the Chief of Army Staff was there, I made clear that we will not sit idle until we see that justice is done to those who were killed in the incident.”
