News

How Maiduguri’s IDPs Survive In Camps

Published

6 years ago

February 9, 2019

Dwindling supply of relief materials has plunged people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in more hardships, necessitating their engagement in various trades to survive.

Forty-nine year-old Modu Butu and his family are from Monguno in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State. They escaped Boko Haram attacks to live at an Internally Displaced Persons’ camp in Maiduguri.

In 2015, he used to receive a 50kg bag of rice, maize and beans as well as one 10 litre gallon of cooking oil, apart from food seasonings and other condiments to feed his family.

The story is no longer the came in 2019, as he now receives just a few measures of only rice and beans. It fluctuates between five and 10 measures, often without any cooking oil and condiments until the next supplies are due.

They have been at the Bakassi IDP Camp in Maiduguri since late 2014 when Boko Haram sacked many communities in the state. Modu and his family struggle with thousands of other IDPs who get pathetic care from stakeholders in the humanitarian crisis. Between 2014 and early 2017, federal and state governments, global agencies, international NGOs and numerous other stakeholders in Nigeria’s Northeast showed astounding commitment to soothing the pains of the IDPs from the trauma of the monumental loss of relations and property, and displacement from their native homes.

These stakeholders at that time maintained constant flow of relief materials which comprised among others, international-standard packages of food items, beddings and medicine.

The IDPs then seemed pampered within the context of their distress situations, as the stakeholders aimed to rescue them from the horrible situations the insurgency had plunged them into.

Due to numerous policy changes, emerging realities and the alleged misconduct of some IDPs themselves, supplies have fallen to a pathetic low level with the IDPs who used to receive bags of food items, now receiving only a few measures.

This situation has plunged them into additional hardships, as they seem to face the reality of relying on their individual efforts to survive.

Most of them collecting a paltry startup capital partly from the conditional cash transfer of the livelihood support programme, a government policy and partly from their various individual sources, now engage in various trades to make ends meet.

“I am now a grocer,” Modu told Daily Trust, “circumstances of camp survival necessitated me to engage in the trade. The relief materials I used to receive from SEMA (Borno State Emergency Management Agency) two to three years ago included bags of rice, maize and beans, maggi, two sachets of salt and one 20 litre gallon of oil for a month.

“Now, most of the times I only receive a few measures of rice and beans only without other grains, sometimes for two months, sometimes until God knows when to feed my family of 13 members.

“On rare occasions NEMA gives me one 25kg bag of rice and25 kg bag of beans, maggi seasoning, five litres of cooking oil, tomato paste sachets, but most times the relief materials I receive are inadequate to cater for the family for a week.

“This is why I sell oranges, cucumbers, carrots, garden eggs and salad to cater for my family. If it were not for the trade I would not be able to cater for the health needs of the family because the camp clinic can only give you analgesics, even if there are other drugs you need, you are only often told to go and buy them outside.

“Because of our squalid condition most of us suffer from diarrhea during the rainy season before government and some NGOs come to our aid.

“But we need some help because we need to buy firewood for cooking, soap for bathing and washing.”

Babagana Sinabi, 50, and his family of two wives and eight children from Kukawa Local Government Area, are also four years old at the Bakassi Camp.

“SEMA used to employ people to cook for us at the camp, later, it resorted to giving us the food items to cook by ourselves, we used to receive 25kg bag of rice, beans and maize for a month, but now we receive only a small bag of rice, a bag of semovita and a small jar of cooking oil which can last only about 10 days.

“After realising the necessity to engage in some trade to prevent my family from hunger, I found it convenient to sell honey, sandals, perfume and other items, but I must tell you that life at the camp is tough, many IDPs find it difficult to feed even once daily,” he said.

Danjuma Yusuf, 65, and his two wives and nine children from Kukawa Local Government Area are one month old at the camp. They are among the thousands recently sacked from the communities between Monguno and Baga by Boko Haram.

“Since we arrived at the camp with my family I haven’t received any food item. I immediately stood up to the stark reality of engaging in some trade to ensure the survival of my family, that is why you now see me selling suya and raw meat because my friends here warned me against relying on relief supplies from government and NGOs. I have been warned that relying on relief materials will compound my trauma as the head of a family.

Hadiza Abubakar, 28, a mother of two from Monguno Local Government Area, has been at the camp since 2014. She lost her husband and majority of relations to the bullets of the insurgents.

“When we arrived at the camp they used to cook food for us, then NEMA was giving us 25 kg bag of rice and maize, palm oil, one bottle for each person,” she recalled.

“Now, it’s seven measures of rice and beans and one bottle of cooking oil in a month, I am left to myself to provide for other things and healthcare for my children, it has not been easy for me and the children.

“That is why when I observed that most IDPs have to buy food items, I thought of selling rice at the camp because I make sales everyday,” she said, adding, “without this trade, life would have been unbearable for me and the children.”

Amidst reduced funds by international donors through the United Nations and the efforts of PCNI through NEMA and SEMA, supply of relief items to the IDPs has actually dwindled.

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ASR AFRICA HOLDS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR A N250 MILLION ABDUL SAMAD RABIU MEDICAL SCIENCE LABOURATORY FOR CRESCENT UNIVERSITY

Published

2 weeks ago

February 26, 2025

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

ASR Africa has commenced the construction of a N250 Million medical science laboratory for Crescent University, Abeokuta in Ogun State.

From Right: Mr. G. T. Ogunmefun (University Acting Bursar); Barr. A. M. Ajiobla, SAN (Proprietor); Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila (Vice- Chancellor); Dr. Ubon Udoh (MD/CEO, ASR Africa); Barr. Z. A. Ajibola (Registrar) and Prof. M. K. Momodu (Dean, College of Law) at the ground breaking ceremony of the Medical Science Laboratory for Crescent University, Abeokuta.

August24news.com gathered that the laboratory will enhance the capacity of the institution in meeting the National Development Plans and Transformational Agenda (NDTA) of the Federal Government of Nigeria, whilst filling the gap created by laboratory scientists who have left the country recently.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, expressed gratitude for the institution’s nomination by ASR Africa under its Tertiary Education Grant Scheme (TEGs).

He applauded ASR Africa for the award of the grant and noted that the project is the university’s topmost priority, considering its drive to expand its College of Health Sciences programs.

In his response, the MD CEO of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh, commended the management of the university for their academic achievements and systematic growth which is evident by the addition of three new colleges recently.

These colleges include the College of Environmental Sciences (COES), Bola Ajibola College of Law (BACOLAW) and the College of Health Sciences (COHES). Dr Udoh reiterated the commitment of ASR Africa in ensuring a timely completion of the project.

The N250 Million grant will provide fixtures and fittings for the medical science laboratory which features a 300 sitting capacity auditorium, offices for Head of Departments and lecturers, lecture /seminar rooms.

It will also cater as laboratories facility for Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Biology, Hematology, Pharmacology/Therapeutics and Chemical Pathology.

The ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme is targeted at supporting quality education within the tertiary education system in Nigeria and so far over 30 tertiary institutions in Nigeria have benefitted from this grant which ranges from N250 million to N 2 billion.

ABOUT ASR AFRICA
The brainchild of African Industrialist, Philanthropist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development within Africa.

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Olusunle, Now Fellow Nigerian Mining & Geosciences Society (FNMGS)

Published

2 weeks ago

February 26, 2025

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…As Society Celebrates 64 Years of Existence

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

A research Director of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Engr. Dr. Samuel Olugbenga O. Olusunle has been conferred with the prestigious Fellow of Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (FNMGS), one of the oldest professional bodies in the history of Nigeria.

NASENI Research Director, Engr. Dr Samuel Olugbenga O. Olusunle, FNMGS, (right) receiving the Conferment Award plaque and Certificate from Prof. Akinade Sadrach Olatunji, the President of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society(NMGS)(left) during the Awards Night which took place at the Chida International Hotels Abuja on Wednesday 19 February 2025.

The Nigeria’s late sage, Pan Africanist and President during the First Nigerian Republic Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the first patron of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society.

The Society yesterday in Abuja concluded its 60^th Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE), and it was time for the body to honour and recognize its members who had contributed tremendously not only to the growth and development of the Mining and Geosciences profession in the country, but the accomplishments of the honourees having direct bearing on the general socio-economic development of the country.

The event which was held between 16^th to 19^th February 2025 at the Chida International Hotel Abuja, came to a climax with Awards Night and recognition. Dr. Olusunle and 42 other members were honoured with the prestigious fellow category, which is the highest election attainable in society.

This conferment has added new appellation to Engr.Dr. Olusunle’s name as FNMGS. In 1977, the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) succeeded the Nigerian Mining Geological and Metallurgical Society (NMGMS) which was founded on 15th January 1961 and officially inaugurated on 17th December, 1962.

The society is an international professional organization. Its Objectives include: Advancement and practice of Mining, Earth sciences and Metallurgy, Acquisition, preservation and dissemination of mining geoscientific and metallurgical knowledge, publication of an interdisciplinary learned journal of Mining and Geology (JMG), the CRUST, periodicals and specialized books including annual books of abstracts and programmes of the society’s conferences and activities and upholding the ethics and safeguarding the interests of the professionals covered by the society.

The society also has statutory representation in the council of the Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG) established by the Federal republic of Nigeria Decree No. 40 of 1990. The categories of membership are Fellow, Corporate, Graduate, Students, Affiliate, Institutional and Honorary fellow, the highest of all is the Fellow category.

When asked to speak on the significance of the society’s recognition to him and NASENI where he serves as Director Research, a highly elated Olusunle had this to say: “I give God the glory and I am really humbled to be elected FELLOW of NMGS. It should be noted that the mandate of NASENI and the core concerns of NMGS are knittingly related. NASENI has one of its institutes operating within the purview of solid minerals exploitation (SOMMEDI).

NASENI also under wonderful leadership of the EVC/CEO, Khalil S. Halilu, is actively involved in the CNG project of the Federal Government. These and other notable activities/intervention of NASENI are collaborative windows between the agency and NMGS”.

Before he became research director, Dr. Olusunle was former Managing Director, Engineering Materials Development Institute (EMDI) Akure, one of NASENI Development Institutes. Also, he is a FELLOW of the Nigeria Institute of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), the Materials Science and Technology Society of Nigeria (MSN), the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), The Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), The Nigerian Metallurgical Society (NMS)and many others.