News

How Maiduguri’s IDPs Survive In Camps

Published

5 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.

Related Topics:Featured Maiduguri’s IDPs

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Transcorp Group delivers impressive Q1 2024 performance; sustains revenue growth of 173% and PBT of N45 billion

Published

20 hours ago

May 3, 2024

august24admin

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Transnational Corporation Plc (“Transcorp” or the “Group”), Nigeria’s leading, listed conglomerate with investment in the Power, Hospitality, and Energy sectors, has announced impressive Q1 financial results for the period ended March 31, 2024.

In its Q1 2024 unaudited results, Transcorp reported significant year-on-year growth, with revenue rising to N88.6 billion from N32.4 billion in 2023, representing a 173% increase.

The impressive results are largely driven by a remarkable 209% year-on-year revenue growth within the power business, highlighting significant strategic progress as part of Transcorp Group’s implementation of its integrated power strategy.

The hospitality business recorded a 68% year-on-year growth in revenue, driven by an increase in occupancy rate from 75% to 82% compared to the previous year.

The results show substantial growth across all financial indicators, reinforcing its market leadership and strategic positioning.

Highlight of Transcorp Group Results:
• Q1 2024 Revenue was N88.6 billion, a significant increase of 173%, compared to Q1 2023.

• Operating income increased by 479%, from N8.5 billion in Q1 2023 to N49.1 billion in Q1 2024.

• Operating expenses saw an increase of 40% year on year to N8.2 billion in Q1 2024, reflecting the impact of inflation and cost of operations.

• Net finance cost increased by 14% to N3.7 billion in 2024 from N3.2 billion in 2023 due to a slightly higher interest rate review in line with MPR.

• Profit before tax from ordinary business of the Group surged by 1110%, amounting to N34.7 billion in Q1 2024, compared to N2.9 billion in Q1 2023 in the same period last year.

• Profit before tax inclusive of extra ordinary income was N45.7 billion in 2024 compared to N2.9 billion in 2023.

• The Group recorded extra ordinary income of N11 billion during the period from the realised gain from the sale of shares.

• Profit after Tax including the extra ordinary income improved 1832% year-on-year to N35.9 billion in Q1 2024, compared to N1.9 billion in Q1 2023 in the same period last year.

• Earnings per share of the Group was N61.12k in Q1 2024, compared to N2.58k in Q1 2023.

• On the balance sheet, total assets grew by 8.3%, from N530 billion in December 2023 to N574 billion in Q1 2024 due to the increase in operational activities.

• Shareholders’ funds increased by 20% from N187billion in December 2023 to N224 billion at the end of Q1 2024 due to profit accreted to retained earnings.

In response to the results, Dr. Owen D. Omogiafo, President/Group Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp, commented, “Our Q1 2024 results demonstrates Transcorp Group’s resilience and commitment to excellence.

Despite the challenges, we achieved growth across all major indices, focusing on operational efficiency at both our power plants, and maximising opportunities within our hospitality business, showing our ability to adapt and succeed in changing markets.

We will continue to deliver sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and value for our shareholders.”

This robust achievement is a further demonstration of the Group’s strategic focus and effective execution. Transcorp is dedicated to its transformation agenda, emphasising sustained growth and a relentless pursuit of long-term value for shareholders.

About Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Plc)
Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group) is a leading, listed African conglomerate, with strategic investments in the power, hospitality, and energy sectors. Driven by its mission to improve lives and transform Africa, Transcorp has built a longstanding reputation for sector transformation, operational excellence, and exceptional financial performance, delivering value to its shareholders.
In the power sector, Transcorp’s businesses – Transcorp Power Plc and Transafam Power – provide over 16% of Nigeria’s installed power capacity.

Through its investments in the energy sector including OPL287, Transcorp is developing Nigeria’s domestic energy value chain.

The Group’s listed hospitality business, Transcorp Hotels Plc, owns the iconic Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Nigeria’s flagship hospitality destination, and Aura by Transcorp Hotels, a digital hospitality platform enabling travellers to book accommodation across Africa.

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Tree4Life Project: NEPL/Seplat JV, Edo Sign Reforestation Agreement

Published

1 day ago

May 2, 2024

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The NNPC Exploration and Production Ltd/Seplat Energy Joint Venture and the Edo State Government have signed an agreement that will see the state government allocate 6,000 hectares of land from its protected forest reserves to enable a large-scale tree planting initiative by Seplat Energy Plc.

This is in furtherance to the Seplat Tree4Life Initiative and the Edo State Government’s identification of the need to increase forest cover and carbon sequestration efforts within the region.

Seplat Energy has been selected as the partner to implement this reforestation project, which aims to plant millions of indigenous trees on the allocated land over the next five (5) years. This project represents a significant investment in environmental conservation and sustainable development for the state.

Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony, which happened in Edo State Government House, the Managing Director, Seplat West Limited, Seplat Energy, Ayodele Olatunde, said the partnership will contribute in the global efforts around mitigating the effects of climate change, whilst providing economic, social, health and other environmental benefits to the region.

“This will stir more advocacy as far as climate change is concerned and put the Edo State Government with the Seplat JV on the map as change agents. The partnership is well aligned with our Tree4Life Initiative and has the capacity to boost our economy and the environment; advance our soil health and drive carbon capture; preserve our ecosystem; enhance biodiversity; create jobs; conserve our forests; and promote physical and mental wellbeing of our people,” Olatunde said.

The Commissioner for Environment & Sustainability, Edo State, Joshua Omokhodion, said the synergy between Edo State and the Seplat JV is a huge attempt at mitigating the impacts of climate change in Nigeria. “Beyond the economics of this move, the science of it is very important to us because it is an attempt to deliberately create an ambience that will be conducive for humans and other creatures here.”

The Director, External Affairs & Social Performance, Seplat Energy, Chioma Afe, in her address, thanked the Edo State Government for partnering with the NEPL/Seplat JV on this sustainable journey of reforestation. She said: “This will drive forward our shared goals of environmental conservation and sustainable land use.

“These 6,000 hectares of land being allocated today, we believe, will provide a major boost to efforts at increasing tree cover and also to sequester carbon in our region. We believe also that this will not only tackle climate change, but will promote the local economy as well as local wildlife. The agreement demonstrates the NEPL/Seplat JV strong commitment to supporting impactful environmental projects.

The Managing Director, NEPL, Nicolas Foucart, represented by Mr. Uzoma Ezulu, DM Operations Management Seplat, NEPL, said the partnership between the state government and NEPL/Seplat JV is a laudable response to the global warming crisis. “The world is turning around for the worst; human activities in the name of development have done more harm than good to the environment. The Tree4Life project, therefore, is a conservative effort for all of us,” he said. Teasoo Consulting Limited was also among the facilitators of the agreement signing ceremony.