A former lawmaker, Gbenga Ashafa, has said that about 3.3 million displaced persons in Nigeria must not just be seen as statistics but be given hope by providing the necessary support and creating opportunities for them to rebuild their lives.
Ashafa stated this, yesterday, while delivering a lecture to mark the 2024 World Refugee Day, organised by the African Refugees Foundation (AREF), and the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of cooked and uncooked food to 4,000 vulnerable and Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Lagos and Ogun states.
He said that the yearly World Refugee Day is more than a date on the calendar but a call to action, as it compels all stakeholders to acknowledge the struggles of those who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, natural disasters and political and economic instability.
He said: “We must remember that these people are not just statistics. They are individuals like you and me with dreams and aspirations. They are mothers, fathers and children. They want to rebuild their lives, given the chance. Our role is to support them by offering sustainable solutions to their plight.
“I must reiterate that hope is what sustains individuals in the darkest of times. It is the belief in a better future, a better life and a safer environment. For refugees and IDPs, hope is a lifeline. It is our duty, as a society, to nurture this hope by providing the necessary support and creating opportunities for them to rebuild their lives.”
Also, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Olujimi Olusola, underscored the importance of promoting and ensuring peace through dialogue as it is critical to check the statistics around refugees and displaced persons.
RELATEDLY, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government and key stakeholders to intensify protection and support for refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs.
Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr Tony Ojukwu, emphasised the urgent need for enhanced measures to safeguard vulnerable populations, stressing that many are victims of insurgencies, natural disasters, and severe economic conditions.
In a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, Ojukwu underscored the theme, “Our Home,” stressing the fundamental human rights to a safe and nurturing environment.
He said that refugees and IDPs are not just statistics but individuals with dreams and aspirations who were disrupted by circumstances beyond their control.
Ojukwu, therefore, called for concerted efforts to resettle these individuals and provide them with the necessary resources to rebuild their lives with dignity.
