Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has flagged off Victims Support Fund (VSF) food item distribution to victims of banditry attacks for the year 2023 in three local government areas of the state.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, at the flag-off ceremony held at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, on Friday, said the state government was not insensitive to the plight of the people affected by insecurity, assuring that the government was leaving no stone unturned for peace and security to return to the affected communities.
"I want to reaffirm the commitment of the government to ensure that lasting peace and security are restored in no time. We are more than willing as a government to leave no stone unturned until we emerge victorious," he disclosed.
The governor observed that despite the efforts of the government and other relevant agencies, the victims of banditry attacks were still faced with challenges that included poor hygiene, a lack of access to education, and an economic downturn, adding that all hands must be on deck to salvage the situation.
He observed that VSF, through the gesture, demonstrated uncommon commitment to ensuring the restoration of peace, security, development, and human dignity, urging it to expand its scope to accommodate people faced by other challenges such as floods, poverty, and health-related issues in the state.
He promised to give adequate attention to the ministries of humanitarian affairs and that of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMSE) in the state, due to their importance in achieving the vision of the present administration in the state.
Earlier in her address, the Executive Director of VSF, Prof. Nana Tanko, disclosed that the VSF was set up by the federal government of Nigeria in 2014 with the mandate of raising funds and developing programmes that will help victims of terrorism.
She said that with the pronouncement of banditry as terrorism by the federal government, they extended their reach to other states affected by banditry activities, of which Niger State was one.
She disclosed that VSF, under the chairmanship of Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, had managed the fund at its disposal judiciously, adding that 3,000 households, 1,000 each from the three benefiting local government areas of Shiroro, Lapai, and Kontagora, will benefit from the food items.
Similarly, the Special Adviser to the Chairman of VSF, Hajiya Saudatu Mahadi, while giving an overview of the VSF since its inception, said in the last eight years they have been working to support victims of terrorism to build resilience and return to their normal lives.
She noted that Niger State had excelled in its FADAMA programme and that VSF will leverage the FADAMA programme structure in collaboration with the new ministries of humanitarian affairs and SMSE in the state to support the victims to be self-reliant, disclosing that in the next three years they will provide support to the victims to rebuild their lives.
In his remarks also, Niger State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Ahmed Suleiman Yimu, appreciated the state governor for creating the ministry, disclosing that since they came on board, they have hit the ground running by spreading their tentacles to get items for the victims and vulnerable groups in the state.
Hajiya Sadiya Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, appreciated the VSF and the state government for the gesture and prayed for lasting peace and security in the state and Nigeria in general.
There were goodwill messages from the Development Initiative of West Africa (DIWA) and other partners of VSF. Food items distributed include rice, beans, sugar, salt, and seasonings.