Rhoda Olorunfemi
The President of Journalists For Christ (JFC), Lekan Otufodunrin, has called for media advocacy for the Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs) in the country to ensure IDP camps are not permanent features.
He made this call on Monday at a public presentation where JFC launched a report of a two-month survey of Monitoring Media Reportage and Portrayal of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa.
Titled ‘Muffled Voices,’ the report is a 36 pages publication presented at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Lagos.
At the event, Otufodunrin, a former online Editor and Director of Special Publications at the Nation Newspaper said, the media can help be the voice for those IDPs to ensure their plight is known and ensure they find their ways back home.
According to him, ‘It is our hope that the media in Nigeria would find this report as useful guide to be able to play their expected role in informing and educating all concerned about the true state of IDPs issues in our country. Our ultimate desire is that IDP camps will not continue to be a permanent feature in our country.
The extract of the two-month survey among six media newspapers and two online platforms in Nigeria in the month of May and June 2018 was in collaboration with World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) and Otto Per Mille Waldensian Church, showed that women and children are mostly the victims of IDP camps where most unused schools and open grounds have become shelters for them.
“Reports have indicated that those displaced, mostly women and children have resorted to refuge in concentrated camps which are mainly unused/abandoned school facilities or open grounds with tents as shelter.
“Despite the various challenges they have to cope with media, coverage and reportage of IDPs revealed that information on the welfare and living conditions of the IDPs are usually restricted and not adequately reported,”
Also, the Assistant Chief Admin-Officer, Head, IDPs/Protection Unit of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced persons Mrs. Ola Erinfolami, in her good will message, enjoined Nigerians to rather call for peace instead of trying to fight back about on the issue of displaced persons, stressing that people affected should not be left on their own, as their rights needs to be respected.
“We need to be our brothers’ keepers- in case of Internally Displaced Persons; we need to call for peace instead of advising rioting. Also, we want them to feel like real citizens, which means their rights, freedom and standard of living as human being must be respected”
She further explained that, concern organisations and individuals can help partner with the commission to help in assisting or sponsoring some of the children to schools, provide clothing, and food for displaced children at IDP camps.
Erinfolami also said, the commission has not in any way in the Western Nigeria experienced diversion of materials meant for IDPs for personally purpose as long as she can recall and advised the media to keep up with the good work done so far in ensuring the voice of IDPs is heard.
The Executive Director of Journalists Against Aids (JAAIDS), Olayide Akanni also, in her good will message said, the issue of Internally Displaced Persons is what everyone and the media inclusive should pay attention to that government will not play its roles if the issue is not being properly and consistently highlighted.
“This is a very crucial area we need to pay attention to, if we don’t continue to highlight the issue, the government will not pay attention to it- the media is shouldered with this responsibility through the media,” she said.
According to the Director-General of Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-Hope), Betty Abah, “Internally Displaced Persons and insurgency are man-made factor in the past ten years; these are major challenges, there has not been media scrutiny and highlights.”
She also observed that the issues of women and children in the IDP camps are not given enough attention.
“Even the displaced women and children who are involved have shown that it is something we need to focus on in Nigeria. Children are at the receiving end of IDP issues and the media should help in reducing the religious and ethnical tension or sentiment in its little way.
“Let’s ensue for peace among those affected, then, food stuff, used cloths, etc will go a long way to help and the need for calling government for accountability through investigative journalism is also important,” She said.
Dr. Oloruntola Sunday, an Associate Professor, Mass Communications Department, University of Lagos (UNILAG), who reviewed the survey said, there is need to give the IDPs a voice which can be made a reality through the media, with publications and thorough investigation.
“The purpose of the project is to galvanize, help, advocate materials and make life better for them,” he said.
He also said, there’s need for policies for that will favour displaced people like the case of sexual assault, mismanagement of funds, and media houses can also sponsor independent reports.
By Rhoda Olorunfemi
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