In Borno, FRCN workers bring joy to IDP camps 0
In Borno, FRCN workers bring joy to IDP camps 0
The Sun, 28 Jan 2016
URL: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/in-borno-frcn-workers-bring-joy-to-idp-camps/
We cook 940 bags of rice per meal, says Gov Shettima
By Zika Bobby
BORNO State Governor, Kashim Shettima said about 940 bags of rice were needed to provide a decent meal for those living in the 31 internally displaced persons (IDP’s) camps in Maiduguri.
He spoke to a team of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN) who paid a visit to the Dalori, Maiduguri camp of the internally displaced persons, where donation of gifts as well as relief and food items were made to the people. The governor said: “We have people in Bama and we have in Konduga. Right now, people in Damboa are congregating in Sabongeri. Those in Burate are coming to Biu. I know this madness will soon be over. What we are witnessing is temporary. Some few months back, 20 local governments of the 27 we have were under the occupation of Boko Haram. You cannot move more than 10 kilometres outside Maiduguri, you would be in Boko Haram’s territory.” He added: “Many roads were inaccessible. Biu road and Maiduguri- Baga road were inaccessible. Our end point was Gobio. We commend President Muhamadu Buhari for coming to our aid. The Nigerian military has able to liberate Bama, Borungala, Mapa, Konduga and so many other communities.”
He thanked the FRCN team for “coming to Maiduguri to feel our pain and commiserate with us over our losses, empathise with us over our travails and giving us your widow’s mite to help our people.”
The donation include clothing, baby wears, pampers, sanitary pads, men’s clothing, soaps, baby cups, powdered milks, beverages, women wrappers and clothing, shoes, bags and clothes. FRCN boss, Mallam Ladan Salihu said he considered Borno a second home and that was why he was saddened by what had been happening in the state since the Boko Haram insurgency started.
Salihu, a former Borno zonal director for the National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC) said the FRCN might not have entered Borno with trailer loads of materials, but that what they brought was symbolic because they were materials that members of staff of the corporation contributed on their own to the people that have been displaced by the insurgency.
He stated that he had earlier discussed with the governor and intimated him of the desire of the corporation to do something to mitigate the pains of the displaced persons. To him, it was bad that they could not celebrate the festive period in the comfort of their homes. He noted that it was important to let them know that at this point in time in their lives, they were not forgotten by the rest of the country.
When the FRCN team moved to the IDPs camp, in Dalori, there was excitement on the faces of the people, especially women and children who were the most hit as a result of activities of Boko Haram. The team handed over some of the items to the IDPs.
The FRCN boss called on the governor to assist the Peace FM, the FRCN FM station in the state. He said as the name suggests, the station was established to cement harmony between the people of the state and disseminate news without fear or favour.
“Peace FM used to be a cash cow in the North-East. But over the years, it has taken a beating. We are transmitting between six to eight hours depending on the situation. But in a period of emergency, it should play a key role. I want to plead with you to help us with electricity in the station because the major problem is diesel. We have decided to be giving the station about 15 drums of diesel every month to increase hours of transmission. But we still will appreciate if you can assist the station more,” Salihu said. The governor acknowledged the positive contributions the station was making towards the development of the state and promised to help the station in any way possible. The FRCN management thanked the governor for his hospitality and for providing purposeful leadership in the face of daunting logistics and security odds.
By Zika Bobby
BORNO State Governor, Kashim Shettima said about 940 bags of rice were needed to provide a decent meal for those living in the 31 internally displaced persons (IDP’s) camps in Maiduguri.
He spoke to a team of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN) who paid a visit to the Dalori, Maiduguri camp of the internally displaced persons, where donation of gifts as well as relief and food items were made to the people. The governor said: “We have people in Bama and we have in Konduga. Right now, people in Damboa are congregating in Sabongeri. Those in Burate are coming to Biu. I know this madness will soon be over. What we are witnessing is temporary. Some few months back, 20 local governments of the 27 we have were under the occupation of Boko Haram. You cannot move more than 10 kilometres outside Maiduguri, you would be in Boko Haram’s territory.” He added: “Many roads were inaccessible. Biu road and Maiduguri- Baga road were inaccessible. Our end point was Gobio. We commend President Muhamadu Buhari for coming to our aid. The Nigerian military has able to liberate Bama, Borungala, Mapa, Konduga and so many other communities.”
He thanked the FRCN team for “coming to Maiduguri to feel our pain and commiserate with us over our losses, empathise with us over our travails and giving us your widow’s mite to help our people.”
The donation include clothing, baby wears, pampers, sanitary pads, men’s clothing, soaps, baby cups, powdered milks, beverages, women wrappers and clothing, shoes, bags and clothes. FRCN boss, Mallam Ladan Salihu said he considered Borno a second home and that was why he was saddened by what had been happening in the state since the Boko Haram insurgency started.
Salihu, a former Borno zonal director for the National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC) said the FRCN might not have entered Borno with trailer loads of materials, but that what they brought was symbolic because they were materials that members of staff of the corporation contributed on their own to the people that have been displaced by the insurgency.
He stated that he had earlier discussed with the governor and intimated him of the desire of the corporation to do something to mitigate the pains of the displaced persons. To him, it was bad that they could not celebrate the festive period in the comfort of their homes. He noted that it was important to let them know that at this point in time in their lives, they were not forgotten by the rest of the country.
When the FRCN team moved to the IDPs camp, in Dalori, there was excitement on the faces of the people, especially women and children who were the most hit as a result of activities of Boko Haram. The team handed over some of the items to the IDPs.
The FRCN boss called on the governor to assist the Peace FM, the FRCN FM station in the state. He said as the name suggests, the station was established to cement harmony between the people of the state and disseminate news without fear or favour.
“Peace FM used to be a cash cow in the North-East. But over the years, it has taken a beating. We are transmitting between six to eight hours depending on the situation. But in a period of emergency, it should play a key role. I want to plead with you to help us with electricity in the station because the major problem is diesel. We have decided to be giving the station about 15 drums of diesel every month to increase hours of transmission. But we still will appreciate if you can assist the station more,” Salihu said. The governor acknowledged the positive contributions the station was making towards the development of the state and promised to help the station in any way possible. The FRCN management thanked the governor for his hospitality and for providing purposeful leadership in the face of daunting logistics and security odds.