The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, NALDA to boost food production for Internally Displaced Persons and refugees in the country.
The Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Mr. Tijani Aliyu-Ahmed explained that the pilot project would cover a land mass of 1000 to 2000 hectares, in ten states, for the next ten years.
“This partnership is a major catalyst and a pivot around which so many displaced Nigerian’s will regain their livelihood in dignity. It will reshape our existence and drive meaningful achievements for the beneficiaries. It’s about something bigger for our nation’s future” he added.
“Agricultural best practices and skills will be taught, yield harvested, direct and indirect jobs created, market participation enhanced and lives transformed. This will no doubt contribute to a stronger, self-reliant and prosperous Nigeria that grows not just food but hope, resilience and prosperity.” he emphasized.
Mr. Tijani who said Nigeria is making efforts to repatriate over one hundred thousand refugees in other countries with over 6 million IDPs already in the country, maintained that the project would provide durable solutions to vulnerable citizens in Nigeria.
“Leveraging on the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I urge all of us to join hands together to make this project a huge success both for the Internally Displaced Persons, host communities and the rest of Nigerians.Permit me to remind us all that partnership and collaborations are essential for achieving common goals, sharing resources, and amplifying impacts” he stated.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of National Agricultural Land Development Authority NALDA, Mr. Cornelius Adebayo explained that as the pioneer land development agency of the Federal Government, the agency was already creating agricultural programs that IDPs would adopt through mechanization.
“We have tractors and other modern farm implements that Mr. President has approved in line with the renewed hope agenda of the present administration to make sure that IDPs in the country are given the desired attention” he stressed.
In the message, the speaker of House of Representatives Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the Chairman House Committee on Special Duties, Mr. Kabir Ibrahim said food security requires a collective effort stressing that the collaboration of the two agencies would promote the wellbeing of IDPs in Nigeria.
Other speakers at the event lauded the collaboration of the two agencies as it would contribute in the goal of achieving food security.
The project, known as the Renewed Hope Restoration project is to rebuild communities to improve food production for the IDPs.
The project, an initiative of National Agricultural Land Development Authority NALDA in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons is to provide sustainable settlements for displaced communities across the country.
