TheCable

Kabiru Marafa, senator representing Zamfara central, says he urged his colleagues to provide N10 billion in the 2019 budget in order to address the humanitarian crisis in Zamfara state.

Provisions were made for the money after Marafa sponsored a motion. The fund is in the 2019 budget passed by the national assembly last week.

In a statement on Sunday, Marafa urged President Muhammadu Buhari to establish the proposed Presidential Initiative on Zamfara State (PIZAMS) in line with the senate’s resolution.

“The unfortunate and dark eight years of banditry (2011 to date) in Zamfara had conservatively led to the killing of over 11,000 male adults, leaving behind an estimated average of 22,000 widows (at 2 wives/person) and an estimated 44,000 orphans (at an average of 4 children/deceased),” he said.

“In terms of casualty ratio and displacements, Zamfara state remains ahead of many states in the north-east and north-central that are currently being given prominence by the mainstream media and the federal government in terms of recognition and assistance.

“The N10 billion will help in resettling the IDPs and other persons affected by the activities of the armed banditry, to cater for their general well being, provision of shelter,  water, basic education, basic health care (especially for the wounded, children and rape victims) and others.”

The senator urged the incoming members of the national assembly from Zamfara “to maintain the tempo by ensuring that PIZAMS get a sizable allocation in the remaining nine years ahead.”