The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Edward Kallon has said that there is a looming food insecurity and nutrition crisis in the Northeast. The 12-year Boko Haram insurgency killed over 36,000 people with destruction of property worth $9.2 billion (N3.42 trillion) in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. According to Kallon, 4.4 million people are threatened with acute hunger at the peak of lean season as well as the rainy season. Kallon raised the alarm Wednesday at the 20th meeting of the Joint Planning Board (JPB) and National Council on Development Planning held at Government House, Maiduguri.
“This is happening against a backdrop of a combination of escalating conflict, displacement and loss of livelihoods from COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. The Coordinator, who was represented by Ms. Esty Sutyoko at the three-day economic summit with the theme: “Managing Nigerian Economy for a Sustainable Development in a Challenging Environment” disclosed that; “We’re working together to alleviate suffering and save lives of people affected by a dozen years of conflict.” She said that the alleviations of sufferings of victims; will be ‘comprehensive and sustainable’ to restore their destroyed livelihoods. She noted that the food and nutrition crises; are complex emergencies in the region that claimed many lives of people. “This is the worst outlook in four years,” she lamented; warning that humanitarian needs are increasing, while funding is declining. According to her, it presents an intricate web of issues that require the collective collaboration of different actors in search solutions.
While acknowledging contributions of the Federal Government and donors, Esty said: “The contributions have enabled us to deliver lifesaving assistance and protection services for millions of people,” including women, girls and children affected by the 12-year conflict in insurgency affected states. The Borno state Commissioner of Finance of Economic Planning, Adamu Lawan also said that there will be no development where there is no security to lives and property. On the impact of the summit, he said: “Peace has already returned to the state. People are showcasing what is happening in the various parts of Borno,” adding that the economic summit will boost the image of the state by building confidence for the organised private sector (OPS) to invest. He said as the government has no business in running industries the private sector is to manage them efficiently.
