UN To Partner Borno Govt, NEDC In Resettlement Of 2.2m IDPs In N/East

By Inusa Salihu Ndahi, Maiduguri

THE United Nations (UN)1 has pledged to partner Borno State government and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) towards resettlement, as well as addressing the challenges of about 2.2 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the three North-East states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Mr. Robert Piper, the Assistant Secretary General of the UN, who is also the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on IDPs revealed the partnership yesterday when he led the UN delegation on a courtesy visit to the MD/CEO of the NEDC Mohammed Alkali in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Mr. Piper said the essence of the visit is for the UN to learn how the state and the NEDC have handled the humanitarian crisis and see how it can support the state Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum who has shown commitment to ensure that the citizens displaced mostly in 2011 by insurgency are resettled and reintegrated to their communities.

He emphasized that solution to displacement requires investment and that it is not something that happens overnight, stressing that, displacement requires investment in infrastructure, health facilities that are functioning, return of persons displaced from schools, with teachers showing up in classrooms.

“It is a long term development enterprise not a short term emergency work. To me NEDC is one of the instruments that holds the key. I believe you are a long term investor after seeing your portfolio and plans, they are long term structural business.

“When we think of of the 2.2 million persons displaced in the North-East out of which, 1.6 are from Borno State, we acknowledge that a lot of people are affected. They need to be on the move, they need to be reintegrated and join communities. We don’t invest exclusively in each family, but we lift the communities and neighborhoods up.

“So the investment benefit is not just to the 2.2 million displaced persons but to the communities where they live,” Piper said.

Responding, the MD/ CEO NEDC, Mohammed Alkali, said he was marvelled during a meeting between the UN and the Governor when he heard of Mr Piper revealling the kind of vision and concerns the UN have in the IDPs.

Alkali said the visit of the UN delegation is not only about discussion on how the issues of the IDPs could be handled, but how to have sustainable approach with each other, adding that the Commission has already developed a master plan for the North-East region.

“The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has supported us in providing technical support in drafting the master plan. The first phase is recovery and stabilisation of the victims of the crisis. We also among others have what we call the renewal phase which focuses on resettled renewal,” the NEDC boss said.

Politics

No Apology For Backing A Northern Candidate, I Am A Northerner And I Would Go For A Northerner; And No Apologies For That. I have Never Hidden This – Abdullahi Adamu

by Trojannews

October 1, 2023

WHEN asked, Was the issue of Senator Ahmed Lawan as the party’s candidate an initiative you took out of your...

Politics

I Am Ready To Contribute To The Development Of Edo State With Full Commitment – Professor Sylvester Odion Akhaine (SOA)

by Trojannews

October 1, 2023

TEXT of message to Esan leadership summit on Edo Gubernatorial Race 2024 by the National Chronical, held at Eguare-Irrua, Esan...

Politics

Nigeria @63: Institutional Conspiracy, Corruption Key Reasons Why Nigeria Growth Is Stunted

by Trojannews

October 1, 2023

THE National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure has decried the pace of growth Nigeria has witnessed since...

Politics

Forget Anointing A Successor, You Haven’t Been Fair, Equitable And Inclusive – Edo PDP Tells Obaseki

by Trojannews

September 30, 2023

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) subtly rejected Governor Godwin Obaseki's proposition to be fairness, equity and inclusion in producing his...

Politics

Edo 2024: For Prof Akhaine, Dry Bones Shall Rise Again, By Otor Drama

by Trojannews

September 29, 2023

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally fixed September 21 next year for the governorship election in Edo State....

Politics

Akwa Ibom Guber Poll: Tribunal Upholds Umo Eno’s Election

by Trojannews

September 29, 2023

THE Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, Akwa Ibom State, has upheld the election of Pastor Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic...

Politics

Court Sacks Plateau Speaker

by Trojannews

September 29, 2023

THE Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Moses Sule has been sacked by the state election petitions tribunal. The...

Politics

Process Of Seeking My Successor Must Show Sense Of Inclusion – Obaseki

by Trojannews

September 29, 2023

THE Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the process of choosing his successor ahead of the Governorship election...

Politics

Tribunal Sacks Enugu PDP Lawmaker, Orders Rerun

by Trojannews

September 29, 2023

THE National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Enugu State has nullified the return of Hon. Okey Mbah...

Politics

Delta Tribunal Upholds Sheriff Oborevwori’s Victory, Dismisses Petition By Omo-Agege

by Trojannews

September 29, 2023

THE Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Friday, affirmed the victory of Sheriff Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)...