The House Committee on Internally Displaces Persons (IDPs), has called on the Nigerian Army with its wealth of experienced personnel in engineering and infrastructure, to be part of the reconstruction of the Northeast.
The Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Sani Zoro, made the call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Zoro said that the military had so far recorded considerable success in the fight against the insurgents, as they had defeated Boko Haram and captured several local government areas that were out of reach.
“The Nigerian Army have played a vital role so far in the fight against the insurgents, it will not only provide security but will rehabilitate, reconstruct and restore the Northeast region of the country affected by insurgency.
“The Engineering Corp of the Nigeria Army can also bid for the reconstruction of roads, bridges and housing in the troubled area,” he said.
The Committee chairman said that the present administration has set up a committee to oversee the reconstruction of the Northeast.
He said that the Nigerian legislature is actually the arm of government that has come up with an agenda, a legislative response to the IDPs situation in Nigeria by establishing a committee.
Zoro disclosed that the first official response from the National Assembly was the call to support various initiatives of the International Community, International Non-Governmental Organizations, and other humanitarian partners within Nigeria.
He urged the executive arm of government to bring all of their efforts under one legal framework so that they will be guided by the law.
Zoro said that their efforts would be unified under one legal frame work so that they can be guided by the law in carrying out their activities.
“After setting up of this committee, we went further to propose a bill for the establishment of the North East Development Commission.
“The committee will serve as the delivering mechanism for the amelioration, extension of litigation and protection for IDPs and refugees within the context of the newly sponsored bill.
“I particularly sponsored the bill that will amend the National Refuges Commission act to provide adequate assistance to the national commission for IDPs, refugees, stateless persons.
“With that, we would have grouped the entire categories of persons under one roof and reach the legal framework so that their different issues will be addressed within that same framework,’ he said.
He however urged the executive arm of government to urgently adopt a national policy on IDPs to enable them to exercise their rights and privileges.
“This is why the legislative arm of government is spear heading this agenda as a response more than any arm of government is, so that Nigerians can embrace the global policy process.
“In other words, it would clearly show who benefits from the experience of a nation like ours that has undergone this kind of experience.
“Except we as Nigerian, benefits from modern ways of doing things as far as this issue is concerned, we will never get it right, we will continue to be clueless and only be groping in the back,’’Zoro said.
NAN
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