THE Presidency yesterday announced conclusion of a two- week assessment of devastation in the North-East caused by insurgents.

It was gathered that the exercise which is part of ongoing Recovery and Peace-Building Assessment (RPBA) programme, was carried out in collaboration with the World Bank, European Union and the United Nations.

The success of the assessment is a prelude to the actual commencement of rehabilitation exercise of the devastated region, according to the Federal Government. It is a follow-up to the agreements reached with the North-East states in respect of the sector and component work plans, data collection modalities and timelines and provision of quantitative and qualitative information by the states.

This assessment will also form the pivot for planning a broad-based public sector recovery programme for the North East, as well as leverage, synchronize and inform the financing initiatives and projects of Nigeria’s development partners, civil society organizations and private sector groups and organisations.

A statement in Abuja yesterday by the Media Office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is coordinating the Federal Government recovery efforts in the North East, said the group was led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Dr. Mariam Masha.

It noted that the recovery and assessment team visited Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states during which the team actively engaged with governors, top government functionaries, Civil Society Organizations, (CSOs), traditional rulers, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), emergency management, humanitarian and relief agencies.