BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state has commended the United Nations for standing by the over two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that are victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Governor Shettima who gave the commendation on Thursday when the heads of United Nations System in Nigeria paid him a courtesy call at the Government House Maiduguri said “ I want to pay a special tribute to the United Nations for standing by us all this while.”
He said there is need to address the root cause of the Boko Haram crisis, which includes poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and destitution through wholistic and coordinated approaches.
He called on the United Nations to increase its humanitarian assistance to the North-East, as the $800 million it has earmarked is not enough, as the level of destruction is enormous.
The governor stated that in their efforts to address some of these issues, the government is focusing on the identified areas of education, healthcare and gender based empowerment.
Speaking earlier, the head of the UN System in Nigeria, who is also the UNDP Representative, Mrs Fatuma Samora said the UN is going to partner with the Federal Government and Borno state in the rehabilitation and resettlement of the IDPs back to their various communities.
She said the UN through its international donors has earmarked the sum of $800 million for the humanitarian crisis in the North-East, pointing out that Borno is the worst hit by the insurgency.
While commending Governor Shettima for catering for the IDPs, she said the UN is ready to support the Federal and state governments for their safe return back to their communities. He also commended the decision of the Borno state government to relocate the IDPs from public schools and for re-opening the schools.
He equally called for proper coordination between the UN agencies, the Federal Government and the relevant ministries for a smooth resettlement of the IDPs back to their respective communities.
