Senator Ali Ndume has said that Nigeria is at war with hunger, poverty, and malnutrition in the North East following the activities of Boko Haram in the area.
Ndume, who is representing Borno South Senatorial zone, stated this while answering questions from State House correspondents after joining President Muhammadu Buhari in performing the 2-raka’at Juma’at prayer at the State House, Abuja.
He, therefore, appealed to well-meaning individuals, non-governmental agencies and the international community to help address the situation in the North East.
He stated that current efforts by the Federal Government to tackle insurgency had been yielding positive results, adding that immediate measures should be taken by stakeholders to ameliorate the suffering of the people in the zone.
“The fight against Boko Haram, with the determination and seriousness from this government, is almost over.
“We are facing another war and that is fight against hunger, malnutrition and poverty, and that too, government is bracing up to it.
“We are crying out, we are looking up to you to help us in the North East particularly.
“Particularly in Borno, the aftermath of the insurgency, which is almost over, is the issue of hunger, poverty and malnutrition.
“For three years our people who mostly depended on subsistence farming, did not go to their farms, and government alone cannot feed the whole North East or Borno state alone, and that is our greatest challenge.
“We are calling on all non-governmental agencies, individuals, all Nigerians and even the international community to join hands in helping our people no matter how little it is.’’
Ndume described the current face-off in the House of Representatives over accusations and counter-accusations of budget padding as “media creation.’’
The senator, who said such face-off was unnecessary, advised all parties involved to channel their grievances through the internal legislative mechanisms for amicable settlement. (NAN)