FG renames IDP resettlement centre after First Lady

The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has renamed its resettlement city in Keffi, Nasarawa State, after Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in recognition of her support and contributions to the welfare of displaced persons in the country.

Speaking at the renaming ceremony, Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, said the honour was bestowed on Mrs Tinubu due to her motherly role and efforts in improving the lives of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

According to Ahmed, the resettlement city currently houses about 40 households, accommodating 239 individuals who have been provided with decent living conditions. He noted that while the project offers hope, much more needs to be done as over 6.1 million Nigerians remain displaced across the country.

“The growing number of returnee migrants, many of whom risked their lives on irregular journeys, makes this intervention even more urgent. Sadly, many women and children continue to seek shelter in unsafe locations such as market stalls, abandoned buildings, and slums,” Ahmed lamented.

He commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its commitment to finding lasting solutions for displaced persons, urging further investment and support to replicate the resettlement model across Nigeria.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who also attended the event, pledged to replicate similar initiatives nationwide.

“Your voices are heard, you are seen, and you matter. You now have access to a good life and dignity,” Yilwatda assured the beneficiaries.

Nasarawa State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Sule, praised the federal government’s intervention and revealed that the state government provided farmland to support the IDPs’ livelihoods.

In her remarks, Senator Oluremi Tinubu expressed her satisfaction with the progress, stating that the resettlement reflects the goals of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“I am pleased to witness the resettlement of 40 households into a safe and dignified environment. This development reaffirms the president’s commitment to improving the welfare of all Nigerians, ensuring they live in dignity, attend school, and contribute productively to society,” she said.

The centre features various facilities including recreational areas, places of worship, greenhouses for farming, and a market to help residents sell their produce.