Zulum Calls for Increased Investment in Borno’s Recovery as UN, Donors Meet in Maiduguri
ISSN: 2354-4481
By Sunday Dayo
MAIDUGURI, Borno State — Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has called for increased investment and stronger collaboration among the state and federal governments, the United Nations, development partners, international financial institutions and the private sector to accelerate the state’s recovery and long-term development.
Zulum made the call on Thursday at the Council Chambers of the Borno State Government House, Maiduguri, during the fourth Project Board Meeting of the United Nations Offer to Support the Borno Model and the Steering Committee Meeting of the Peacebuilding Fund.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Federal Government, United Nations agencies, development partners and donor organisations.
The governor said the decision to hold the high-level meeting in Maiduguri underscored Borno’s strategic importance in national and international efforts to promote peacebuilding, stabilisation, reconstruction, recovery and sustainable development in Nigeria’s North-East.
He commended the United Nations, donor countries and development partners for their financial and technical assistance to communities affected by more than a decade of insurgency.
According to him, interventions through the Peacebuilding Fund and the UN Offer have helped expand support beyond immediate humanitarian assistance to areas including reconciliation, reintegration, livelihood development, social cohesion and institutional strengthening.
“Progress in Borno is a product of strong partnerships among the state government, the United Nations, development partners, communities, the Federal Government and other stakeholders,” Zulum said.
He described the development of the Borno Model legal framework as a major outcome of the partnership between the state government and the United Nations, noting that the framework would strengthen the institutional foundation for peace, recovery, social cohesion and development.
Zulum said Borno was undergoing a critical transition from humanitarian response to recovery, reconstruction, resilience and long-term development.
He identified rebuilding conflict-affected communities, restoring basic services, improving education and skills development, creating jobs, empowering women and young people, strengthening local institutions and supporting displaced and returning residents as key priorities.
The governor also called for greater investment in agriculture, small and medium-scale enterprises, vocational training, digital opportunities and value-chain development.
He said appropriate investment in infrastructure, skills and enterprise development could help reposition Borno from being primarily associated with insecurity and humanitarian challenges to becoming an economic centre in the North-East.
Zulum disclosed that the Borno State Government had committed more than 70 per cent of its budget over the past seven years to security, support for internally displaced persons and refugees, reconstruction of schools, houses, health facilities and markets, as well as livelihood programmes.
He said the investments were aimed at restoring dignity, strengthening resilience and sustaining peace across the state.
The governor urged stakeholders to build on existing achievements, scale up successful interventions and ensure that communities benefit fully from the transition towards medium- and long-term sustainable solutions.
He commended the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohammed Malick Fall; and UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, for their contributions to Borno’s recovery efforts.
Minister Bagudu said the challenges facing the North-East should not be viewed only as humanitarian crises but also as opportunities for long-term investment and sustainable development.
He called for coordinated financing and closer cooperation between federal and state governments, the United Nations and development partners.
Bagudu also commended Zulum for providing leadership and coordinating the state’s response to the complex challenges created by the Boko Haram insurgency.
Fall and Attafuah reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to supporting Borno’s recovery programmes and commended the governor’s leadership.
