Senate panel: FG spends N5bn monthly on IDPs — it’s not sustainable

The senate committee on special duties says the federal government spends N5 billion monthly on internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in the north-east.

The IDP camps were established in the region following the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.

Many lives have been lost and property destroyed owing to the attacks by the insurgents.

Speaking with journalists at the weekend, Yusuf Yusuf, chairman of the committee, said the amount spent by the government on the IDPs is not sustainable.

The senator said all levels of government must ensure that the IDPs return to their communities.

“It is a very sad thing that I have seen in the IDP camps. There are 2.7 million people in the IDP camps across the northeastern states. No amount of resources that can sustain or take care of their palliatives,” he said.

“The government and the development partners are doing their best but the resources are very small. We cannot sustain spending the N5 billion a month to take care of these people.

“We cannot continue to believe that the IDP syndrome should continue. We must exit it at one time or the other.

“All of us, what we should do is to work together, accept the fact that security is important, the security agents should be given enough courage because the government is doing its own best but the security agencies, though they are trying, their best is not enough.

“The people in the IDP camps want to go back to their homes, and there is no reason why they shouldn’t go back.”