CDS Pledges Commitment To Upscale Military Operations As Refugee Commission, DEPOWA Flag-Off Project Zero Hunger In Abuja.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor has reiterated the desire and commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to upscale it’s operational engagements towards restoring lasting peace to all the troubled parts of the country.

The CDS made this disclosure today 30 September 2021, during the flag-off of the “Project Zero Hunger” (Each One Feed One), jointly organized by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) held at the Internally Displace Persons (IDPs) Camp in Durumi, Abuja.

Gen Irabor stated that President Muhammadu Buhari is providing the right leadership direction upon which the AFN have been able to undertake its operational engagements, which has brought sufficiently peace across the country.

He recalled that Mr President had mandated the Armed Forces and security agencies to ensure that security situation is brought to reasonable closer in order to enable farmers to return to their farmer so as to guaranty food security in the nation.

The CDS while explaining that the military had a lot of mileage to cover in terms of improving the security disposition, noted that the military is committed to upscaling her operations in order to ensure that citizens undertake their social economic activities, including freedom of movement without molestation.

The Defence Chief applauded the Project Zero Hunger partnership initiative between NCFRMI and the DEPOWA, aimed at bringing succor to the vulnerable persons of concern in the society.

He commended NCFRMI and DEPOWA for their partnership which he said is supporting the kinetic and non-kinetic operations of the military. According to Gen Irabor, the AFN medical outreach, humanitarian and social intervention programmes has boosted its Civil-Military engagements while galvanizing community support and goodwill for military campaigns.

The CDS appreciated IDPs across the nation for exhibiting high level of discipline and behaviour, urging them to report anyone with criminal tendency to the security agencies. He reassured them of Government’s commitment to ensuring that they return back to their original homes healthy and productively.

Earlier in her remarks, the Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Hajiya Imaan Ibrahim said the Project Zero Hunger will help to streamline and enhance the accessibility, distribution and availability of mainly food and non-food items to satisfy the immediate nutritional needs of all persons of concern using the food care packs.

According to her “the Project will adopt and promote an integrated and whole of society approach which gives everyone the opportunity to complement the Federal Government effort, especially in the feeding of persons of concern, thus addressing their immediate challenges of hunger and malnutrition.

The Commissioner further described the Project Zero Hunger as a platform where stakeholders could collaborate and support the Commission in this regard.

The DEPOWA President, Barr (Mrs) Vickie Irabor, identified insecurity in the country as a major cause of raising cases of IDPs Nigeria, describing the Zero Hunger Project as a flagship programme which strives to empower these vulnerable and indigent victims.

According to her, the project was an opportunity for the NCFRMI and DEPOWA to contribute their quota in ameliorating the challenges faced by vulnerable group.

Highpoint of the event was the flagged-off of the Zero hunger by the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, represented by Alhaji Grema Aliyu, the Director of Humanitarian Service in the Ministry. The IDPs were presented with the food items at the occasion.

The Project Zero Hunger which was equally conducted at the Karu and Keffi IDP Camps in Nasarawa State will be replicated in the six Geo-Political zones of the country.