Osinbajo launches government's Emergency Food Intervention in the northeast in defiance of Boko Haram

ACTING president Professor Yemi Osinbajo has flagged off the government's Emergency Food Intervention programme in the northeast designed to address possible feeding shortages among the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Nigeria currently has the highest number of internally displaced persons (IDP) in the world and of late there have been fears that many of them will face starvation. In a bid to address any food security concerns, professor Osinbajo embarked upon a tour of the northeast yesterday where he met with refugees, soldiers and visited the IDP camp.

Storming Maiduguri, the Borno State capital only a few hours after a Boko Haram attack, Professor Osinbajo defied the threat of the insurgents to flag-off the programme. Along with Governor Muhammed Abubakar of Bauchi State. Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state and Alhaji Mustapha Maihaja, the director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema), he flagged off the food distribution programme at the Bakassi Camp in Maiduguri.

Professor  Osinbajo said the federal government would not be intimidated by the attacks of the remnants of Boko Haram. According to him, the government is determined to ensure that IDPs return to their various communities and pick up the pieces of their lives.

"The food distribution is going to be a quarter programme, by adopting door-to-door distribution in order to dignify our people. The federal government would also use a voucher system in catering for the IDPs and it would also serve as data base for future resettlement process," Professor Osinbajo added.

He noted that the grains, which mainly consist of sorghums, rice, maize and soya beans, were locally produced by the Nigerian farmers, in line with President Buhari‘s policy of "Eat What we Produce, Produce What we Eat. Governor, Shettima, said the visit was psychological warfare, indicating that the government would not be intimidated by pockets of Boko Haram terrorists.

During the visit, the governor thanked the federal government for the intervention and assured that the state would continue to work closely in the process of reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement. Articulated vehicles carrying assorted foodstuffs were inspected by the acting president.

Alhaji Maihaja, said the intervention would change the perception of the nation in the eyes of global communities. He said Nema was ready to partner with state, local and international humanitarian organisations in bettering the lives and welfare of victims of Boko Haram insurgents, especially the IDPs.