Bureau de change operators pledge support for IDPs

The Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) on Tuesday, pledged to assist in reducing the plight of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East.

Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, President of the group, made the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Gwadabe said that members of the association were willing to make voluntary contributions to meet the humanitarian challenges in the IDP camps in the north-east.

According to him, the planned support for the IDPs was in line ABCON’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and members’ sacrifices toward assisting the oppressed.

He said that the association had also resolved to solicit for help for the internally displaced persons in the country.

“The IDPs lack a voice for international support and we are set to come to their aid,’’ Gwadabe said.

He commended international organisations and some philanthropic Nigerians for their contributions so far in ameliorating the suffering of the IDPs.

According to him, the association was particularly moved by the recent donation of N360 million by 18 state governments from the north to cushion the suffering of the IDPs.

“The recent donation by 18 governors from the north is highly commendable,” he said.

Gwadabe also called for a prudent management of the resources generated for the IDPs.

NAN reports that since the commencement of the insurgency in 2014, close to two million people have been displaced and 32 IDP camps created to cater for their needs.

Meanwhile the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said that about 6.5 million people have been marked for life-saving assistance in north-eastern Nigeria in 2017.

OCHA said that of this figure, an estimated 1.9 million people had been displaced in Adamawa, Bauchi, Bornu, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.

The UN agency said about $1.1 billion was required to meet the needs of the people, adding that about $480.1 million had been spent so far while $574.3 million remained the funding gap.

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