ASATTAHIR International Foundation (AIF) took part in the stakeholders engagement workshop organized by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in Sokoto state. The workshop took place on 7th February 2023.
In his welcome address, the Founder and Chairman Board of Trustees of ASATTAHIR International Foundation, Aliyu Sidi Attahiru thanked all the stakeholders in attendance for coming which cut across representatives of government ministries and agencies, international organizations, civil society networks and security agencies. He further enjoined all stakeholders to key into the vision of the Danish Refugee Council to put all hands on deck to effectively respond to the humanitarian and protection needs of internally displaced persons in the state. In addition, he thanked DRC for being in Sokoto state to execute their humanitarian activities and assured that AIF will support their mission in the state.
In his opening remarks on behalf of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Mr. Paul Enahoro Enude stated that DRC is a humanitarian organization founded in 1956 in Denmark and works in over 40 countries across the world. He added that DRC has been operating in Nigeria since 2015 and has been providing life-saving assistance to vulnerable population and conflict affected communities, including IDPs and refugees.
In his goodwill message, the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Sokoto, Hon. Ya’u Muhammad Danda, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of his ministry applauded Danish Refugee Council for hosting the stakeholders workshop and for their interest in complimenting the efforts of Sokoto state government in responding to the needs of displaced persons. He reiterated his ministry’s determination, on behalf of the Sokoto state Government, to support the mission of DRC and her partners.
Similarly, in their goodwill messages, the Executive Secretary of AIF, Prof. Yahaya Tanko Baba, the Legal Adviser to AIF, Barr. Rashidat Mohammad and Dr. Garba Ibrahim noted that the dynamics of internal displacements in Sokoto state has severely impacted thousands of people and has distorted the socioeconomic and sense of security of the people. They hoped that the stakeholders workshop will come up with effective recommendations and modalities for a coordinated humanitarian response to IDPs in Tangaza and other LGAs in the state.
In the same vein, the Director disaster and relief Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mustapha Umar recalled that in the past, displacements in Sokoto state were largely caused by flood and other natural phenomena but over the years, insecurity has gradually become the leading cause of displacements. He called for a coordinated effort by all stakeholders to respond to the immediate and long term needs of IDPs in the state. Also, in his goodwill message, the Deputy director international corporation, Sokoto state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Aminu Modachi, who represented the honourable commissioner of the ministry, called on all partners to ensure proper registration with the state government. He also gave assurance of the ministry’s commitment to support all interventions that improves the well-being of the people in the state, particularly the one embarked on by the DRC.
The CCCM/Site Management Services Coordinator, Peter Samson Ayok stated that the workshop was aimed at providing an avenue for sharing important information about DRC’s mandate, planned assistance for Sokoto state, including the types and modalities of the support to be provided. He added that the workshop was designed to enable proper engagement with key stakeholders in the planning and decision making process which is crucial for ensuring that assistance efforts are culturally appropriate, sensitive to local needs, and accepted by the community.
The sessions of the workshop included the overview of displacements in Tangaza LGA by DRC CCCM/Site Management Services Coordinator as well as presentation of the outcome of the rapid needs assessment of IDPs conducted in Tangaza LGA by the Head of Programs and Research of ASATTAHIR International Foundation, Mr Rufus Yagkong.
The workshop also availed stakeholders the opportunity to share insights, concerns, and suggestions for improving collaboration and coordination of interventions in Sokoto state, especially in Tangaza LGA.
Stakeholders that attended the workshop include the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, the State Security Service, the honorable commissioner and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, representative of the Special Adviser to the state governor on NGO matters and donor agencies, representative of the Special Adviser to the state governor of SEMA, Deputy director international Corporation of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning Sokoto state, representatives of Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labor (NACTAL)
