Sani: FG has released billions yet IDP camps are in terrible shape

Shehu Sani, the All progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Kaduna central at the senate, has lamented the “terrible state” of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Borno state despite the federal government’s release of billions of naira to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the insurgency-ravaged state. 

Sani, who is also chairman of the senate ad hoc committee on humanitarian crisis in the north east, therefore said individuals found to have diverted government money meant for IDPs must be sanctioned.

He was speaking in an interview with NAN shortly after a visit to Dalori IDP camp in Maiduguri.

“Our visit to Maiduguri is to investigate an alleged large-scale misappropriation of funds meant for the welfare of victims of insurgency in the north east,” he said.

“And from what we have seen here, all aspects of life need improvement; the feeding, water supply, schools and hospital require more support.

“It is still a surprise to us that in spite of the billions of naira sent by the federal government to cater for the IDPs, things are still in terrible shape. I think there ought not to be anything lacking here.

“But from all indications, the camps have been turned to cash cows for some persons to amass wealth for themselves. If the money sent by the federal government has been given to the people on ground, things would have been different. Look at the school boys, they do not have shoes or books and the school is lacking many things.”

Sani said the hospitals meant for the IDPs were “in a shambles’’, adding that the quality of food being served to the displaced persons was also not commensurate with federal government’s spending.

“It is time to ask questions, where is the federal government money going into? That is why we are here.”

Sani, who said that the committee would also hold a public hearing in Abuja to further get information on its assignment, noted that “we are going to write our report on what we have seen here and a public hearing will be held in Abuja, where people from IDP camps will be invited”.

“The people will be invited to narrate their experiences at the IDPs camps.” he said.

“We will make sure that individuals found wanting are prosecuted, because our final findings will be tabled before the senate plenary for adoption.”