The National Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday, presented 300 tonnes of relief materials to Nigerien government officials for onward distribution to Nigerians living in refugee camps in Niger Republic.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that six trucks loaded with relief materials were released to the government for distribution to the refugees in the camps located at Gidan Runji, Moradi states in that country.
The beneficiaries were residents of Sabon Birni and Isa local government areas of Sokoto state, who are victims of banditry.
Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Maihaja, handed over the items to Mr Sani Sunoussi, an official of the Nigerien government, who is also the Secretarie General Adjoint du Government de Moradi.
Maihaja, who was represented by NEMA’s Head of Operation in Sokoto, Dr Kofoworola Soleye, said that the consignment was part of support from the Federal Government.
Items presented comprised bags of rice, beans, millet, sugar and cartons of maggi cubes, tomato paste, detergent, and toilet soap.
Others are blankets, towels, children’s, women’s and men’s wears, mosquito nets, nylon mats, and cloth materials.
He said that the items were procured after NEMA received report a report on displaced Nigerians who had fled to neighbouring border communities in Niger, after which an assessment was conducted.
Responding, Sanoussi said that no fewer than 18, 000 refugees were at present taking refuge in the border communities in the area.
He added that a distribution template designed by UNHCR, the coordinators of the activities of donors was already on ground.
Sanoussi explained that the Nigerien public and government had donated 100 tonnes of relief materials, Sokoto state government 300 tonnes, and Dangote 500 tonnes of assorted items.
NAN reports that the event was witnessed by John Usman, the Nigerian Consular official in Niger Republic and Mustapha Umar, the Director, Relief and Rehabilitation of Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency.
NAN reports that in spite of appropriate authorisation from the Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country’s Customs officials at Konni, a border town, impounded the items for more than 24 hours before they were released.
The officials insisted that the original waiver documents on the goods should be provided, as NEMA officials only had photocopies of the documents.
The items were released on Tuesday after NEMA officials paid 120, 000 CF (about N66, 000) to a private clearing agent to obtain another transit permit.
NAN recalls that the trucks left Nigeria through Illela border on Monday, and the items reached Gidan Runji community on Wednesday.
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