President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that the North East will, in the coming months, witness a change from the protracted insurgency to peace and development in their respective communities.
The President made the pledge at the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East of Nigeria, held at the Presidential Villa Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari announced that his administration is embarking on a revised approach to addressing the 13-year conflict and insurgency in the region and will not relent in efforts towards a return to peace and normalcy.
He said at the advent of the present administration in 2015, he pledged to Nigerians that he will restore peace in the North East and return it to the path of development and growth.
He told the people of the North-East, particularly the children that the government will never forget them, and commended their exemplary courage, sacrifice and endurance.
The President assured them that in the coming months they will begin to witness a shift away from a protracted insurgency to peace building, stabilization, and ultimately development in their respective communities as government embarks on a revised approach to addressing this conflict-
On the terms of Reference for the Committee, the President emphasized that it entails a shift from managing the situation to activating a permanent solution for effective and practicable restoration.
He said the Committee, among others, is expected to develop a concise three-year action plan by the end of March 2022 that incorporates national and state level plans, providing a clear pathway for the restoration of peace and development in the North East.
The Committee, he said, will also develop and implement a phased plan for the repatriation, returns, and resettlement of IDPs and restoration of livelihoods, incorporating global best practices that give dignity to the affected populations.
According to the President, they will also be responsible for the development and implementation of a coordinated peace building and reconciliation programme that is culturally appropriate and community driven.
The Committee is also saddled with the responsibility of strengthening collaboration with key donors, development partners and private sector organisations that are critical to the mobilisation of resources and implementation of programmes.
President Buhari charged the Committee members to adopt the guiding principles of accountability, delineation of duty and community-driven methods to address issues.
President Buhari directed the committee to submit monthly progress report whilst the first progress review meeting will be held in the first week of March 2022.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, who was present at the inauguration appreciated presidential Buhari for taking the right step, stressing that the north east governors are ready to receive the internally displaced persons.
The members of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East include the Ministers of Finance, Budget & National Planning; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development; Interior; Foreign Affairs and Defence.
Others are the National Security Adviser, Inspector- General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff, Director General, State Security, Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Director-General, North-East Development Commission, Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants & Internally Displaced Persons, Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency and Chief of Defence Intelligence.
BELLO WAKILI