Jos Killings: First Lady Donates N500m to Affected Families

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, through her pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), has donated N500 million to families affected by the series of attacks in Plateau State in recent times.

The first lady said the gesture was to enhance the resettlement of the affected families, some of which were not in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the state.

Speaking while presenting the relief package in Jos, Mrs. Tinubu said she has been worried and concerned about the well-being of the people since the unfortunate attack that took place in Mangu Local Government Area on the 15th of May, 2023, and subsequent attacks in other parts of the state that caused deaths of many and rendered others homeless.

While noting that many families lost unquantifiable properties in the attack, she said, “The financial support of a sum of ₦500 million by RHI is a modest step towards helping these families rebuild their lives, providing them with the means to secure shelter.

Tinubu, who expressed concern about the insecurity in the state, which has led to the loss of livelihood, shelter, and displacement of communities, said concrete measures must be taken to offer respite to the affected persons, which the administration of her husband was committed to achieving.

She said the measures included dialogue and other reconciliatory measures to find lasting solutions to the situation not only in Plateau but across the nation.

Lamenting that “homes are destroyed, lives are disrupted, and countless families find themselves displaced and without the basic necessities needed for survival, Tinubu said in times like this, “it is not enough to simply have empathy and offer condolences. We must take concrete action to alleviate the sufferings of those affected and this is why we are here today to offer support.

“The financial support of N500 million by the Renewed Hope Initiative is a modest step to help these families rebuild their ground and also provide a source of livelihood, secure shelter, and other essential commodities.”

In his remarks, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the state said selecting the state ruled by the opposition party to benefit from the gesture was an indication that governance was more paramount than political differences.

“After politics, we must face governance, particularly the welfare of the people,” he said, admonishing the beneficiaries to share with others as their brother’s keepers and put the intervention in good use.

While saying the beneficiaries would be supervised to ensure they use the funds in line with its objective, he commended the wife of the president, for her kindness and urged her to continue to show concern for the needy, adding that her passion for IDPs should be emulated by others.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang-Buba, who is also the Chairman of Plateau Council of Chiefs and Emirs, thanked Tinubu for the intervention and concern for the challenges faced by the people.