Boko Haram: Let’s address root causes, Zulum tells UN Coordinator
Worried by the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has charged the United Nations Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon and other stakeholders to collaborate in addressing root causes of the menace.
Zulum gave the charge in Maiduguri on Thursday when a delegation of the UN, led by Kallon, visited him.
Zulum cited endemic hunger, low literacy, lack of job opportunities, particularly in communities relying on the shrinking Lake Chad, poor control of land borders, among others.
“We’ve been receiving tremendous support from the humanitarian partners as well as the development partners. But there is a need for us to address the root causes of the insurgency” Zulum said.
He decried the deplorable conditions of the IDPs and the increasing criminal activities in the camps.
“The continuous dependence on handouts by our internally displaced persons is not a solution to ending this humanitarian crises.”
“While food supply is dwindling, the population is increasing in quick geometrical ratio. There is increasing prostitution in the IDPs camp, there is increasing rate of drugs abuse in the IDPs camp, there is procreation and increasing gangsterism in the IDPs camp” Zulum said.
“Let me use this forum to express appreciation to the UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator and other members of the UN country team for this very important visit.
“Let me also convey our deep appreciation to the humanitarian and development partners in Borno State for their continuous support to our IDPs,” he said.
Zulum, while commending the efforts of the all the humanitarian actors in the northeast, said it was necessary for the government and the humanitarian and development partners to shift their goals “from our present humanitarian support to medium, and long-term sustainable solutions.”
“Government of Borno State and the Federal Government have been supporting the IDPs with large amounts of food items. I remember within the last six months, the Federal Government has allocated no fewer than 450 trucks of food items to Borno State in addition to what we’ve been providing.
“Therefore, the earlier, the better for all of us to put our heads together in resettling back our internally displaced persons to their ancestral town so that they will return to start their normal farming activities.” Zulum said.
He commended the efforts of the military towards supporting government’s commitment to the welfare of the IDPs, especially in conveying food and non-food items to different locations in the state.”
Earlier, Kallon had highlighted the activities of the humanitarian partners in Borno.
He attributed the lingering crisis in the northeast to a development deficit encompassing weak institutions and lack of governance at all levels, impact of climate change, increased competition over land and water resources, pervasive corruption, slow economic growth with non-diversified economy and lack of economic inquisitively coupled with the population growth, multidimensional poverty and inequality.
“Your Excellency, I’ve always said the UN in Nigeria believes there’s no military solution to this intractable crisis in which Borno has suffered more than its fair share. We believe a political and peace process is essential to complement the gallant military efforts if we’re to achieve and sustain peace,” Kallon.
He warned that the northeast had reached an alarming level of food insecurity and hunger as result of the 11-year insurgency.
Kallon also recommendations consideration. put
for forward four the governor’s