United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, has said that the organisation will continue to support the resettlement of displaced persons with the restoration of their livelihoods in Borno State.
The 15-year-old conflict has claimed about 40,000 lives and property worth about N4.8 trillion in the North East. According to him, the state has achieved a lot in the restoration of peace and development of liberated communities affected by the conflict.
Fall, who serves as Assistant Secretary General of the UN, made the pledge, yesterday, in Maiduguri, during a courtesy visit to Governor Babagana Zulum at the Government House.
He said: “My own is a responsibility to come and bring my contribution; not only me but the entire UN system. I want you to believe that we are here only for one thing: to understand where you want to go, read where you want to go and be behind you.”
“The UN is behind you, making sure that every single step you take towards improving the lives of Borno people, you will have us next to you in that journey.”
The humanitarian coordinator noted: “Though we still have some challenges, when I look at where it was in 2015 and 2016 compared to where we are today in terms of access and population that can benefit from the services of the government, in terms of people whose well-being has been improved, in terms of services provided to people who need it most.”
He stated that a very long journey had been made to restore peace and the livelihoods of people affected in the conflict. Fall, therefore, commended Zulum for his efforts towards improving the lives of Borno people with the measures taken by the team. He continued; “Every initiative you implement or undertake, you can count 100 per cent on my support and the support of the entire UN team.”
Fall was deployed to Nigeria last week as Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. He has over 20 years experience in development, humanitarian and peace building across the globe.
Responding, the governor expressed gratitude to Fall for the visit, noting his numerous contributions to the development of Borno and the entire North East when he was Country Representative of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) between 2016 and 2019.
Zulum, however, expressed his administration’s commitment to resettling IDPs to their ancestral homes or other places safe for them to source their means of livelihoods.
He, therefore, assured them of his commitment to collaborate with the UN and ensure that humanitarian and developmental services were rendered to the people in the state.
