Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with Germany is to restore peace and livelihoods of Internally Displaced Person (IDP) returnees in Borno state.
The Northeast stabilization process with peace could provide hopes and the education future of children affected in the 13-year conflict.
Unveiling the peace building process, yesterday (Monday), in Mafa, Borno state, the German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, disclosed: “Governor Babagana Zulum, it’s an honour today (Monday) that we are here in your hometown, Mafa, which has been destroyed in 2015 by the non-state actors.
“Coming from Europe; one can hardly imagine what it means if the whole town was not only destroyed, but people had to flee with the loss of many people’s lives,” adding that the children’s parents were also killed in the over a decade conflict in the state.
According to her, the UNDP regional stabilization facility can work together between the United Nations (UN) and Germany with the European Union (EU) to ensure peace and the stabilization process with people’s livelihoods.
While citing the UNDP Ngarannam village, in Mafa Council, she said: “This village will not only host the IDP returnees, but engage them in decision-making process.
Besides, she added that ‘security, education and healthcare’ are, however; crucial in restoring the hopes and future of the people affected in the conflict.
“Functional infrastructural facilities and police stations will be provided,” she declared, stating that this will ensure ‘trust and commitments’ among the IDP returnees.
After interacting with the women and school children of Ngarannam for over an hour, Annalena urged the federal and state governments to involve women in the decision-making process.
She noted that women constitute about 50 per cent in the peace building and stabilization process of the Northeast region.
Responding, Governor Zulum attributed the over a decade conflict to abject poverty, drug abuse and environmental degradation.
While thanking Germany for the stabilization projects, he said: “Without the support of 50.45 million euros (N30.22 billion) from Germany, thousands of youths could have joined Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terror groups in the state.”