By Samuel Oyejola
The Government of Japan in its efforts to restore lives and hope to the people of the North-East geopolitical zone of the country displaced due to insurgency in the region has extended its grants to IDPs in the region to the tune of $3.5 million with the recent donation of $1million to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Nigeria. The embassy of Japan in Abuja announced this in a recent press release made available to Time Nigeria.
According to the Japanese government, the grant is in response to the critical needs of the people forced to flee their homes but wish to return.
The Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Sadanobu Kusaoke while reiterating the commitment of his country to the IDPs of the North-East said that the effort is to “create opportunities to those affected by the conflict.”
He called for a global joint effort to restore lives to the people of the northeast Nigeria.
The UNHCR Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Antonio Jose Canhandula said the UNHCR is committed to provide assistance to support a safe and dignified environment for families to return.
“We will improve sanitation facilities, provide alternative sources of energy, and improve safety and security for people forced to flee, who need protection,” he said.
In recent time there have been protests by IDPs from the northeast all over the country demanding government to provide logistics for their resettlement back to their communities.
The IDPs in Oyo state had recently vowed to trek back to their communities if the federal government refuses to grant their wish.