Presidential committee promises agric inputs for returning IDPs

Presidential Committee on North East Initiative (PCNI), says it will provide agricultural inputs to Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs), returning to their homes.

Yakubu Yakub, chairman of its sub-committee on economy, told newsmen in Gombe on Thursday that providing such support was a core mandate of the committee.

“Displaced persons coming back to their homes will be given all agricultural inputs.

“We are mandated to revitalise the agricultural sector and ensure that mechanised agriculture is revived.

“The agricultural inputs will help the displaced persons to start their lives afresh,” he said.

According to him, the committees is also expected to tackle a key factor responsible for the insurgency – youth unemployment.

“We will train youths in the North East and ensure they are engaged in one or the other.

“We will also mentor the youth to become productive to the society,” he said.

The chairman regretted that women were always at the receiving end of the insurgency being the most vulnerable in the society.

“The married ones have become widows because their husbands were killed.

“We will bring them together and train them in profitable ventures that will transform their lives,” he said.

Yakub said that the sub committees was already at work, adding that the visit to Gombe was a fact finding one.

“We are touring the region to see what has happened to it physically; we shall also engage people in town hall meetings to work out modalities toward restoring full life to the region,” he said.

He said that the unwanted killings by insurgents were a set back to the communities, and declared government’s resolve to put an end to them.