Nigeria is ravaged on all sides by various humanitarian challenges; the decade old insurgency in the North-East, banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and violent land grabbing in the North West. In the South, armed robbery, heightened by the lockdown imposed by the government to curb the spread of covid-19 is begging for prompt action. There is no other time that Nigerians, especially the 40 percent that lives below the global poverty line are in need of humanitarian assistance than now.
We therefore commend individuals and organisations that contributed to various intervention support to the less privileged in the country to alleviate their misfortunes. The Federal Government in May announced that it got donations of up to the tune of N27.1 billion from individuals and private organisations to assist government in fighting covid-19 and cushioning the effect of the pandemic on Nigerians.
More importantly we are moved by the support extended to the government by individuals known to be opposition to the current administration. It is important that such efforts should be encouraged in the country. The lives of ordinary Nigerians should not be sacrificed at the altar of politics and in the name of playing opposition or watchdog to the government. It is pertinent that all hands must be on deck to provide support initiatives for Nigerians at these trying periods.
The likes of Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) donated N50 million to the government to curb the spread of the virus and also cushion the effect of the lockdown on Nigerians. Also, President Olusegun Obasanjo also donated his former resident in Abeokuta to the Ogun State Government to help in the curb of disease in the state.
Also, we are aware of the efforts of humanitarian agencies in the Boko Haram receded North-East. We therefore call on all well-to-do Nigerians to contribute their quota to support the international agencies, local and international nongovernmental organisations working in that region to help those displaced by the insurgency.
There is no doubt that the stretched fight against insurgency is taking its toll on the Federal Government, we therefore challenge members of the opposition to cross the political divide and show support to the government in its efforts to alleviate the suffering of the IDPs.
It is the height of insensitivity to play politics with the misfortunes of others especially those who are bereaved, IMPACT NEWS calls on opposition parties in the country to contribute in every way possible to support government’s effort in steaming the rising tide of insecurity in the country.
