North-South foundation reaches out to 12 IDP camps in Niger as part of it’s CSR

By: TUNDE BOLAJI, MINNA.

The North South Power (NSP) Foundation has donated food items valued at million of Naira to 12 IDP camps across Shiroro and Munya local government areas of Niger state.

Presenting the assorted food items at the Mararraban Dandaudu, Gwada, Shiroro and Kuta IDPs Camp, representative of the Foundation, who’s also the Consultant, Public Relations of the North South Power Company Limited, Dr. Sam Esumeh stated that the Company wants to continue to maintain the cordial relationship with the host communities and to also continue to align with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, which talks about food and elimination of hunger.

“We noticed that some of them are still hanging around, and still very hungry, so we decided to make a request to the management; and that is why we have what we are giving to them now. Dr. Esumeh said.

He added that NSP Foundation is very committed to the welfare and well-being of these IDPs.

“Right now, as we speak, we have just covered about 13 locations. We have six of them in Sarkin Pawa, I mean, Munya local government.”

He said the Company is still going to do more.

Dr. Esumeh affirmed that the Foundation has expended close to N30 million for the purchase of assorted food items.

The donation includes essential food items such as; rice, beans, maize, garri, tomatoes paste, maggi, cooking oil, salt, and maggi spices among others.

The Chairman, Munya Local Government Council, Hon. Aminu Najume Kuchi, in his remark at the presentation of the food items in one of the IDP camps located at Mararraban Dandaudu Primary School, said this generous act of compassion has provided the much-needed relief to the IDPs, bringing hope and sustenance to those affected.

Hon. Kuchi stated that for the past three years, NSP Foundation has been very supportive of IDPs across Munya and Shiroro local government areas and urged them to continue their charitable work.

The chairman acknowledged the challenges posed by insecurity over the past six years, noting that recent government initiatives have led to an increase in residents returning to their villages.

“For years, our communities were plagued by insecurity, but due to improvements, we are now witnessing a return to normalcy,” he stated.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the Dangunu community, representative of the Hakimin Dangunu, Kuchi Ward, Abdullahi Baba Ahmed, expressed his gratitude over the kind gesture shown by the NSP Foundation to the over 1, 000 displaced persons fron Dangunu Ward. While Isah Mohammed, Secretary to Hakimin Kuchi who represents Kuchi community called on the Niger State Government to again come to their aid, as over 25 communities were affected by the banditry activities, adding that all their IDPs were scattered around, some squatting with their relations in Kuta, Gwada, Sarkin Pawa and a host of other villages.

Out of the 78 communities sacked by bandits from Erena villages, over 642 IDPs were at the Gwada Camp while about 28 schools both Primary and Secondary were also closed down as a result of the banditry activities.

In all the Camps visited, desk officers’ in-charge complained of health challenges in their respective camps, health issues ranging from malaria to typhoid, at least three deaths were recorded in Gwada camp as a result of illnesses.

While receiving their share of the donated food items by the NSP in Kuta Camp, the desk officer, Yusuf Bala Kuta said the security situation in the area has improved, as out of the over 685 IDPs in Kuta Camp, most of them have returned to their ancestral homes, presently, there are less than 300 in the camp.

Kuta Camp also has some health challenges, with one death recorded.

The IDP camps that benefited from the food donation include; 1.Central Primary School, Erena. 2. Town Hall, Erena. 3. Basic Health Centre, Erena. 4. Area Development Centre, Erena.

Central Primary School, Gwada. Model Primary School, Gwada. Central Primary School, Kuta. Central Primary School, Dangunu. Rural Hospital Extension, Dangunu. Dnawi Primary School, Sarkin Pawa. Jaifulu Primary School, Sarkin Pawa. and Town Hall, Sarkin Pawa/Kuchi.