By Funmi Falobi

The number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, as a result of insurgency, flooding, ethno-religious conflict, communal clashes and recently, banditry has been on the increase.

While the Sub+Saharan Africa accounts for 10.762million IDPs, Nigeria has the third highest number of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa. In 2020, the country had 2.7 million IDPs according to statistics.

A report which covers the period from June to July 2021 shows that Nigeria, has 2.182 million IDPs and reflects the trends from the six states of the North Eastern part of the nation – Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.

Many of the IDPs live in various camps across the country, while some live in slums in deplorable conditions. They are voiceless in their own society. Though they have rights as budgeted for -rights to education, food, shelter, water, health; etc., but how are they benefiting from these rights?

“One thing that comes out for me is basic education. After shelter, food, is education. While in camps they don’t need formal education but could be arranged there with the use of Corps members,” said Mrs. Kemi Adeyeye, Executive Director, Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFGPED).

Speaking at a consultative/media parley on ‘Advancing IDPs Issues” with support from World Association for Christian Communications (WACC) President, Journalists for Christ (JFC) International Outreach, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin charged journalists to report issues affecting internally displaced person’s in the country saying, “JFC does things that are communication rights and humanitarian issues of IDPs. Journalists should do more in the area of reporting their issues.”

Recounting her experience, Laila Isaac, an internally displaced person (IDP) in Nigeria had to take refuge in Lagos State with her family.
Laila and her husband and seven children fled Gombe State, when their lives became threatened on account that her husband, a Muslim, married her, a Christian, and later converted to Christianity. She later became the breadwinner of the family, when her husband had an accident and as a result of broken leg, the responsibilities of catering for the household, rested on her

“We have to run away from home so that we will not be killed. They want to kill my husband and so we ran to Lagos.”

‘I face many problems. We live in a shanty home with the children. We live in the slum with about 200 people who are also displaced from their homes. We don’t have anything,” she said.

Laila, like other displaced person’s in Nigeria, are going through a lot of challenges and living in a society, where their plights are not even felt. Many do not reckon with them in the society because they are not aware of their plights.

“I came to Lagos when I lost my father because there was nobody to help . I worked as a cleaner to help my siblings back home in Kaduna State,” Regina Samuel, another displaced person’s said, while recounting her ordeal in the hands of her employer in Lagos.
According to her, she had worked for a year as a cleaner without payment, only to be told that the person who brought her had collected the salaries upfront.
She later got employment with sesor, where she wss being paid N25,000, out of which she sends N20,000 to her siblings in Kaduna State for their upkeep, while she keeps N5,000.
Regina took in for a man who was assisting to meet her needs. “I had to move in with the father of my baby who is assisting me. Government should help us so that things will work for us,” she said.

While stating that there are IDPs in Lagos state even though many are not aware, Ms. Chinagorum Okoro, Communication Officer,, Sesor Empowerment Foundation said many IDPs live in unconducive settlement in Lagos.
According to her, the organisation provides skills acquisition and soft loans to help the IDPs.

“As an organisation, we take care of their medical needs. We want to see how we can work with HMO to lessen medical care, schools for children. They need help, life is not easy for them

*Water, shelter and food are problem. Relief materials are being hijacked on the way and don’t get to them. A lot of them don’t have anywhere to turn to. There are IDPs in Lagos who need help. If Lagosians open their hearts, if government opens its minds, they will know that there are displaced people in Lagos who need their help. Journalists should help to change the mindsets of people towards IDPs,” she said.

For John Okocha, a documentary storyteller and social worker, there is need for psycho-social support that would lead to change of mindsets.

‘Emerging issues in IDPs camps are the same story but how do you tell the story, who do we tell the story? He queried.

“The mentality has not changed. The moment you are displaced, you become second class citizens in your own country.

‘How do you change the mentality of someone who has been raped severally, abused, lost parents? I have seen a 12 year old girl who could dismantle an AK-47. Another little girl carried her little brother and both fell on the ground in the camp.

“For northerners, education is a whole lot. You need to work on their mindsets for them to embrace education. You need to gain their trust to make them talk.”

Corroborating the need for skills acquisition, Adeyeye said, “We need to teach them skills on how to generate money for their families. Major complaint of IDPs is lack of water in their communities of resettlement. My concern is how safe are they when they go back to their original communities? Have we really stemmed the Boko Haram insurgency?”.

{By SDNonline}

As part of efforts to ensure that any assault on journalists covering diverse activities to commemorate the #Endsars protest are well documented, the International Press Centre (IPC) has set up a situation room to closely monitor the safety and the rights of journalists and other media professionals in their coverage of the “One Year After the #Endsars Protest”.

This was stated via a terse statement by IPC. According to the statement, IPC can be reached concerning any protest-related incidents involving journalists on any of the following mediums:

Twitter: @IPCng
Facebook: IPC Nigeria
Hotlines : 08128241359, 08065327421

Earlier on, the organisation had expressed great concerned about the sudden disappearance of Vanguard Newspaper’s House of Representatives Reporter, Mr. Tordue Salem since last Wednesday, October 13, 2021. The organisatuon has tasked security operatives to carry out thorough investigations to unravel the circumstances on the sudden disappearance of Salem, who was reportedly last sighted within the premises of a Total Filling Station, opposite the FCT, Abuja Police headquarters on Wednesday evening.

IPC’s Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, in a statement said that Salem’s disappearance is disconcerting and the search for him should be accorded high priority by the Police and other security agencies.

“In a country where the rights of journalists and media professionals are continuously violated, concerted efforts by relevant stakeholders are necessary to ensure that Mr. Salem returns to his family and beat safely, and that the safety of other journalists and media professionals is guaranteed,” he said.

IPC therefore appeals to the government and the security agencies to do all within their powers to locate Journalist Salem.

By SDNonline

In commemorating 2021 International Girl Child Day, CEE-HOPE has launched its female football club called Carol Queens.

The first set of the team was drawn from communities across Lagos State with age range from 13-18years.
The organisation also launched its docu-drama entitled “Rape of Justice.”

According to the Executive Director, Betty Abah, the initiative is a way of inspiring the girls to believe in themselves.

“I believe there will be very big international stars from the team. I enjoin other girls who are strong and have stamina to join us instead of using their energy to beat their younger ones or fight in the neighborhood,” she said.

The team coach, Kudirat Kilani also encouraged the girls not to allow failure to hinder them but see it as a stepping stone in achieving their objective in life.

At the event which had in attendance girls from various schools, different speakers addressed the girls on the theme of this year’s commemoration, “Digital Generation. Our Generation.”

Telling the story of his daughter, who despite not making university entry examinations twice but with determination succeeded and now work in a reputable organisation, Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director, Media Career Development Network urged the girls to be determined and not allow anything to limit them.

He said, “gender is not a barrier. Be determined to achieve your goals. Read the people you want to be like. Be digital savvy and apply caution where necessary. Gender is not a limitation.”

On her part, Mrs. Mbanisi Sophy charged the girls to have role model and the fear of God which will make them to go places.

Abah explained that girls anywhere in the world matter and that they are the most endangered species. Adding, girls deserve care and their needs are not like others.

“Girls are like eggs they can be easily damaged. We work with children in marginalized communities.

No child deserves to be left behind. Everyone should see themselves as stakeholders when it comes to the girl child,” she said.

In bridging the gap for girls in the area of science and technology, she stated that though the stereotype is still there but the perception is changing in career gradually.

Other speakers include Anike-Ade Funke Treasure, Yinka Kenny, Rhoda Olorunfemi, Oluebube James and Amaka Nneji.

By SDNonline

A faith-based media NGO, Journalists For Christ (JFC) International Outreach, in partnership with World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) and the Bread for the World (German Protestant Agency for Diaconia Development), have launched a project aimed at bringing to the limelight for institutional attention, the rights and welfare issues faced by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria.

According to the President of JFC, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, “The project entitled, ‘Advancing the Rights and Welfare of IDPs Through the Media’, will help to consolidate our work in alleviating the pitiable living conditions of IDPs.”

Otufodunrin, former Online Editor and Director, Special Publications at The Nation Newspaper stated further that “The project will run from September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022.”

Otufodunrin, in a statement, also said the project would provide information on the trend in reportage of IDPs and training for journalists and writers on enhanced reporting of IDP issues.

“A small team of journalists across the country will be commissioned to write special investigative reports on IDPs issues and engender stakeholders’ engagement; and conduct series of media-driven advocacy to advance the welfare of IDPs.

“Overall, the one-year project is expected to drive positive reportage of IDPs in the media and attract policy change to improve the welfare and rights of IDPs.

“The new project will build up on two earlier projects; Monitoring Media Reportage and Portrayal of IDPs in Africa and Managing Internal Displacements in Nigeria supported by WACC and Otto Per Mille( Weldesian Church), Italy,” he added.

He further stated that, “As a media based organisation, we are among others, committed to advocating for the communication rights of all citizens, including many who are voiceless.

“Across the country, the population of IDPs is growing and there is need for more media focus on their plight.”

“Overall, the one-year project is expected to drive positive reportage of IDPs in the media and attract policy change to improve the welfare and rights of IDPs.

“The new project will build up two earlier projects; Monitoring Media Reportage and Portrayal of IDPs in Africa and Managing Internal Displacements in Nigeria supported by WACC and Otto Per Mille (Weldesian Church), Italy,” he stated.

He also said, “As a media based organisation, we are among others, committed to advocating for the communication rights of all citizens, including many who are voiceless.

“Across the country, the population of IDPs is growing and there is need for more media focus on their plight.”