In spite of the huge support by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) toward the stabilization of the North-East Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria, the body has admitted the need for more assistance.
In fact, it recently emphasized the urgent need to reach out to several vulnerable communities in the region, in line with the principle of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which stipulates that no one should be left behind.
UNDP Country Representative, Elsie Attafuah, made the disclosure recently at the unveiling of 1,900 resettlement houses and a 100-person capacity ICT centre in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State.
In a digital era, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre was aimed at facilitating digital education among people in the area.
The project, which was also in collaboration with the German government and the Borno State government, had in attendance, the state governor, Babagana Zulum and the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annet Günther.
Attafuah noted that the extended phase of Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) between 2024 and 2028, was to provide opportunity to redouble efforts, mobilize additional resources and consolidate on the results of the past five years.
She indeed assured that none would be left behind in the move to enhance the living standard of the people. “This is a commitment we have to make, this is part of humanity in us and this is one of our greatest callings as development and humanitarian practitioners”, he said.
Attafuah also commended Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana U. Zulum, and the entire people of Monguno for the improved security, hospitality and commitment to rebuilding lives. “Your leadership and unwavering efforts in advancing peace, stability and development in Borno State and Northeast Nigeria are highly commendable.”
She believed that the initiative would help to uplift the dignity of the affected population, decongest IDP camps, promote safe and voluntary return, create a conducive environment for reintegration of repentant Boko Haram and associates, enhance socio-economic well-being of the host community and build community social cohesion and resilience.
“Our collective effort in the North-East, especially in Borno State, is making a tremendous impact in the lives of the people and the region, restoring hope, fostering social trust between the governments and the people, improving security, building back a better society, reducing the incidence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).”
Other benefits, he said, include increase in the socio-economic empowerment of the affected population; reinstatement of access to social services and rebuilding people’s confidence and resilience.
“To be specific, in the past year, our collective effort and partnership resulted in the construction of 25 social service facilities; 1,400 shelters comprising 500 housing units and 900 semi-permanent shelters; 500 housing units in Logomane and nine security and justice infrastructure. These facilities were accompanied with relevant social service infrastructures such as water, green energy, recreation centres and markets.
“Also, livelihood and protection of SGBV were a major component of the achievements. About 4,000 constituting 40 per cent females were empowered through cash grants, technical and vocational skills acquisition with start pack grants and agricultural inputs.
“To promote regional trade networks between Nigeria and her neighbouring countries, RSF programme invested massively in border infrastructures, including customs, immigration and police facilities and markets. The investment has helped to bolster economic stability, improve security and peaceful co-existence among the border towns.
“To boost achievements being recorded under RSF programme, and to ensure durable solutions to IDPs in critically affected communities, the UN Secretary General advanced an initiative on durable solutions to IDP issues in 15 pilot countries.
“Nigeria is one of them. This initiative complements the Borno Model, a creative development policy framework designed for a sustainable peacebuilding and reintegration in the State. There is no doubt that effective integration and synergy of these development tools will result in sustainable peace, stability and development of Borno State and North-East region.”
In her remarks, German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annet Günther, said the project would have a great impact on communities affected by insurgency, describing the housing project as a shining example of collaboration between the Borno State Government and international partners.
According to her, funding for the housing units came from both the state government and international donors.
Earlier, Borno State Governor, Zulum, informed that the housing estate comprised 1,000 units of two-bedroom low-cost houses and 900 units of semi-permanent shelters.
He noted that the houses would be distributed among 1,874 households selected from 18 communities. The selected households, he explained, had been living in the Internally Displaced People’s camps for several years.
Zulum stated that the German government funded the construction of 500 permanent housing units in 2020 and added 900 semi-permanent shelters in 2023.
According to him, “Borno government built another 500 houses and provided complementary amenities such as a health centre and solar-powered boreholes.
“A Letter of Agreement (LOA) was signed in 2020 under the RS German Initiative to kick-start the construction of 500 houses.
“In 2023, another LOA was signed under the RSF German reintegration funds, enabling the completion of the 500 housing units, 900 semi-permanent shelters, and the installation of 375 solar streetlights. These efforts will support the voluntary decongestion and eventual closure of IDP camps in Monguno, enabling smoother reintegration of displaced families in their ancestral homes.”
Zulum expressed gratitude to the Governments of Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Egypt and the European Union, for their continued support. He also commended UNDP for its unwavering partnership in stabilizing the region.
