Aftermath the humanitarian crises being experienced in the camps of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the North East in the war against Boko Haram, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has donated the sum of $10million to help Nigeria tackle the challenges.
Leader of a Saudi Arabian delegation who announced the aid package at the ministry of Defence, during a visit to Defence Minister, Mansur Muhammad Dan Ali on Monday, Nasir Bin Mutlak, disclosed that the aid package which is in cash and military equipment was aimed at assisting the IDPs in the north east in particular as well as other essential needs of the military.
He said, “Our country (Saudi Arabia) and Nigeria have continued to have very good relationship.
“Our mission in the ministry of Defence is to help our brothers in the IDP camps in the North East.
“The $10million is from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and the Saudi Development Fund.
“It is meant to show solidarity with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and to show support in aid of the IDPs who are going through some sufferings”.
Mutlak also said that the delegation would visit the states in the North East affected primarily by Boko Haram to ascertain the level of support to be provided to ease the effect of the insurgency destruction on those
states and report back to their country.
Responding, Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the huge support to Nigeria at this time noting that aside assisting in tackling challenges at IDP camps, it will go a long way in helping to acquire strategic military equipment needed to tackle the terrorists challenges.
He said, “Nigeria really values the alliance between our countries to fight terrorism. As you may be aware, we have the Multi-national Joint Task Force MNJTF, comprising Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic fighting to stop the spread and advancement of terrorism in the
region.
“Consequently, the humanitarian crises goes even beyond Nigeria.
“We have refugees from Cameroon, Chad and Niger, worsening the already tough situation with IDPs in the country.
“Your intervention will go a long way in helping us tackle these challenges”.
“However, I will still call on your government to consider other areas where you can still be of assistance because the challenges are enoumous.
“These areas include provision of military harware, Intelligence sharing and training”, the minister said.
Other members of the Saudi Arabia delegation were Khalid Bim Abdulrahman Al-Mani and Muhammad Bim Addidat Al-Namla.
On the side of the minister of Defence were the permanent Secretary, ministry of Defence, the DG of NEMA and senior military officers from DHQ and Defence Intelligence Agency, PGSO to the minister and the Chief Information Officer, Col Muhammad Gusau .
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