Agency to help rebuild houses for Jos victims

As part of its effort to rehabilitate victims of the recent crisis in Jos, Plateau State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has promised to assist those whose houses were destroyed in the violence in rebuilding them.

The agency’s Director of Relief, Olusegun Ojo, told reporters yesterday, in Abuja, that though the Agency has spent over N100 million to provide relief materials to the people, it will provide building materials for the needy so that they can put their structures back in shape.

Speaking on the security situation in Jos, Mr. Ojo said residents want more security personnel to be posted there.

He said displaced people in camps, in Bauchi State, are comfortable there and not in a hurry to return to Jos.

“What they are asking for is the provision of more relief materials and ensuring that their lives are secured while there, without any threat from anybody,” he said.

The official, however, called for synergy among all the various agencies working in the area. He made obvious reference to the committee on the relief materials set up by the Plateau State government, which refused to work with the agency’s officials who were on ground to provide assistance to the victims.

“The prompt intervention of the deputy governor of the state, Mrs Pauline Tallen saved the situation, as she quickly called the state commissioner for women affairs to partner with us in the distribution of the materials,” Mr. Ojo said.

He said the Bauchi State government is cooperating with NEMA officials and did not institute any barrier to the distribution of materials to the people.

The official called on the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution to sensitise the people on the benefits of coexistence, noting that the challenges could not be handled by NEMA alone .

“One of the key observations noticed among the victims,” he said, “is the ability of the government to implement the reports of previous panels.

“The people say they are willing to stay together, but government must summon the courage to deal with the sponsors of this heinous crime against humanity.”