FG to prioritise welfare of Boko Haram victims, says Osinbajo

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has promised to assist Boko Haram victims and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the northeast.

Osinbajo made the promise when Governor Kashim Shettima led elders from Borno State to thank him on the release of the 82 Chibok girls.

While hoping that the remaining Chibok girls would be released, he said the humanitarian crisis in the northeast had become worse than before.

The acting president said: “We will take some time to outline what the priorities are and determine the cost. We must do everything to ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to these children. That, in my view, is the whole essence of leadership.”

He explained that what the country had spent on the recovery plan under the Presidential Initiative on the North-East (PINE) and Borno State was less than 10 per cent.

According to him, the current allocation for humanitarian services in the region was grossly inadequate to address the needs of the people who have been traumatised by the insurgents.

This promise is coming on the heels of last Friday’s meeting by security chiefs and other government officials to address the prevailing humanitarian crisis in the region.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari attended the meeting.

Osinbajo commended the Swiss government and other international bodies who assisted in the swap negotiations that led to the girls’ release.

Shittima expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, adding that the international community acted based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s sincerity.

The Governor of Zamfara State and Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum, Abdul-Aziz Yari and Senator Ali Ndume solicited urgent assistance to tackle the humanitarian crisis in the area.