…as First Lady commissions resettlement city for IDPs

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has again commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his economic policies which is enabling states in the country to execute projects.

Governor Sule made the commendation during the official commissioning of a resettlement city for concerned persons in Pyanko, Keffi on Saturday.

According to the Governor, Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, particularly his economic policies, has ensured that states receive more funds which is making it possible for governors to execute meaningful projects.

He equally applauded the President on his administration’s efforts towards addressing security challenges in the country.

“I want to commend President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for the good work that he is also doing in the area of security. When you are not in a circle, you assume the circle is empty. But a lot is being done in this country,” he stated.

Governor Sule used the opportunity of the event to disclose that President Tinubu will be visiting Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital on an official engagement on June 25th, when he is expected to commission some of the projects completed by the state government.

“On the 25th of this month, we will be receiving Mr President in Lafia, in order for him to commission some of our projects. Some of the projects we never promised we will do. We never thought we will have the capacity to do. Today, we have completed all these projects without borrowing one naira from anybody. The only way this could happen is with the renewed hope formula for the economy we are enjoying,” he stated.

The Governor equally commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for bringing hope to the hopeless in the society.

He particularly commended her for always identifying with the vulnerable persons, having earlier singlehandedly constructed a befitting orphanage in Karu Local Government Area.

“I must not forget to welcome you to Nasarawa State for yet another programme that gives people hope. Last time, you were here in Karu Local Government at an orphanage, which you singlehandedly built, which today is the best in the state. Today, you are here again to give hope to people who have already given up. By associating yourself always with the vulnerable, the vulnerable are experiencing the hope that we are talking about,” he said.

The Governor also announced a donation of 100 hectares of farmland for the concerned persons living at the settlement to use in cultivating food and other farming activities.

“We decided to give them farmland so that they could feel at home because back in their villages, that is where they live. They are farmers. If you take away farming from them, they would still be displaced. That is why we gave them 100 hectares in order for them to continue with their farming activities. Today, they are farming all kinds of crops,” he added.

Commissioning the facility, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, said the event represented the progress in the national efforts to restore hope, dignity, safety, and patriotism to concerned Nigerians who were displaced from their homes.

The resettlement city, named after the First Lady, was constructed by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), and accommodates 40 households—comprising 239 individuals—drawn from the North East region of Nigeria as well as refugees from Cameroon, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.

Speaking at the event, Senator Tinubu urged residents to be law-abiding and integrate peacefully with the host community.

She emphasized that President Tinubu is committed to ensuring that all Nigerians, regardless of their background, live in dignity and security.

“Today’s occasion represents progress in a national effort to restore hope, dignity, safety and patriotism to fellow Nigerians who have been displaced from their homes due to circumstances such as insurgency, banditry, communal clashes and natural disasters. I am pleased to witness the resettlement of 40 households comprising 239 individuals into a safe and dignified environment,” she said.

While noting that resettlement must go hand in hand with empowerment and skills acquisition, the First Lady donated 400 bags of 25kg rice, 1,200 pieces of ankara fabric, 600 units of the national fabric, and cash support—N200,000 per household and N50,000 to each farmer among them.

“I am glad to learn that 100 hectares of farmland have been secured for families to cultivate for food and income. It is also encouraging to hear that the resettlement city is equipped with greenhouses, vocational training centres, a police station, a church, a mosque, and a clinic,” she added.

The First Lady recalled that she was in Nasarawa State two months ago to commission the Nana Berry Orphanage and Children’s Home built by the Office of Sustainable Development Goals in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative.

“The orphanage now cares for over 150 of our precious children, giving them a beautiful home where they can live and thrive like any other Nigerian,” Mrs Tinubu said.

For the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, who was also an IDP in Borno State, the facility in Keffi would be replicated across the country to further bring back hope to displaced persons.

Earlier, Federal Commissioner, National Commission For Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Tijjani Aliyu Ahmed, said the resettlement city housed about 40 households, comprising of 239 displaced persons/refugees, providing them with decent accommodation for better living.

Ahmed further disclosed that the city comprises 40 housing units, 20, 2-bedroom, 20, 1-bedroom, with each unit having a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

“There is a health centre, skills centre, a market stall. 2-blocks of three classrooms with a capacity of 120 people, a security post, as well as three greenhouses for farming,” he said.

Dignitaries that witnessed the event include, Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, Minister for Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, the Emir of Lafia, HRH Sidi Bage Muhammad III (rtd), Nasarawa State First Lady, Hajiya Sulifat Abdullahi Sule, as well as the wife of the State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Sheila Akabe.