The World Bank is setting aside $800 million in support of the
rebuilding of infrastructure devastated by years of Boko Haram
insurgency in the Northeast.
The United Nations (UN) Resident and
Humanitarian Coordinator, Fatma Samoura, who disclosed this on Thursday,
stated that the global body was increasing its presence in Borno and
other Northeastern states devastated by insurgency.
Samoura, who is also the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative in Nigeria, spoke
in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, during a courtesy visit to
Governor Kashim Shettima.
She, however, expressed regret that the
UN was having challenges in mobilising resources for Nigeria in view of
the humanitarian crises in other parts of the world.
She said: “Yesterday (Wednesday), we had a long discussion with the World Bank team that came from Washington D.C. to attend the workshop.
She said: “Yesterday (Wednesday), we had a long discussion with the World Bank team that came from Washington D.C. to attend the workshop.
“The workshop is for validating the year
findings of the recovery and peace-building assessment. They have
promised to leverage 800 million dollars for the Northeast in response
to recovery, rehabilitation, de-mining, waste management and debris
processing for the Northeast of Nigeria,” she said.
“As we all know, the Syrian crisis that
is affecting Europe is also taking a heavy toll, in terms of funding,
from our traditional donors. We are trying our best to ensure that our
advocacy and our communications strategy are up to the levels where we
will be receiving more attention from the donor community.
“The humanitarian response plan, as we
speak, is just 10 per cent funded, meaning we have only received $24
million. This is out of $248 million budgeted for the Northeast of
Nigeria for 2016,” she explained.
Samoura, however, pledged that the UN would continue to complement the World Bank and the EU’s support to address the root causes of poverty and exclusion in the Northeast.
Samoura, however, pledged that the UN would continue to complement the World Bank and the EU’s support to address the root causes of poverty and exclusion in the Northeast.
“The UN will be on your side in order to
address the humanitarian situation. The UN will also support the Borno
government in its work on recovery and rehabilitation for the safe
return of the IDPs (internally displaced persons) back to their areas of
origin,” Samoura assured her host.
Her visit to Maiduguri, she said, was a
demonstration of the sympathy of the UN to the deplorable situation of
the 1.8 million people displaced by insurgency, even as she applauded
the strong leadership and commitment exhibited by the governor in
exploring lasting solutions to safe and voluntary return of the IDPs to
their original homes.
In his response, Shettima thanked the UN
for identifying with the government and people of Borno in finding out
the causes, as well as exploring lasting solutions to insurgency.
The governor stated that the $800 million financial commitment by the World Bank was grossly inadequate considering the enormous challenges wrought by insurgency.
The governor stated that the $800 million financial commitment by the World Bank was grossly inadequate considering the enormous challenges wrought by insurgency.
According to Shettima, “It is in the
interest of humanity to rally round Nigeria against Boko Haram. The
developed world gave Turkey $2 billion to resettle refugees from Syria.
There are about two million IDPs from Borno and 20 local government
areas were overran by Boko Haram and there is food crisis now in the
state,” he said.
The federal government last July,
obtained a commitment of $2.1 billion as credit from the World Bank to
rebuild the Northeast zone when President Muhammadu Buhari visited the
United States.
Speaking after the meeting with representatives of the World Bank and other donor agencies, Buhari hailed the decision to invest $2.1 billion in rebuilding the troubled region.
Speaking after the meeting with representatives of the World Bank and other donor agencies, Buhari hailed the decision to invest $2.1 billion in rebuilding the troubled region.
“The World Bank will spend the $2.1
billion dollars through its (International Development Agency), which
gives low interest rate loans to government.
“The first 10 years will be interest
free, while an additional 30 years will be at lower than cammercial
market rates. The World Bank is eager to move in quickly, give out the
loan, and give succour to the people of the Northeast, long at the mercy
of an insurgency that has claimed over 20,000 souls,” Buhari had said.
Culled from Thisday
No comments:
Post a Comment