Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The European Union (EU) and UNDP have engaged 600 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) for the implementation of community “clean-up and waste management” activities in Borno. The community waste management programme, is also to deliver sanitation related services under EU funded “Sustainable Waste Management and Environmental Protection” project tagged: “Emergency Employment in Borno state.” Inaugurating the employment programme on Thursday in Maiduguri, the UNDP Head in Northeast, Ms. Mizuho Yokoi said that the implementation of the project in being executed the UN development agency. Her words: “This project aligns with the European Union’s funding objectives. It is also part of UNDP’s early recovery efforts, aimed at resuscitating household sources of livelihoods that will sustain communities beyond humanitarian aid. “The beneficiaries of this intervention include Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and their hosts in communities.” Speaking on waste management incomes, Yokoi said: “Income generated from opportunities like this helps families meet household needs,” According to him, the household needs include feeding, medication and children’s school fees. She noted that previous beneficiaries from similar opportunities have used income earned to start small businesses and support even more community members. She further disclosed that over US$8 million (N2.88 billion) will be invested in activities aimed at ridding the region of debris from conflict and reconstruction and cleaning up communities in Maiduguri, Bama and Biu Local Government Areas. She said that the 10-year crisis has led to displacement of over 10 million people in the Northeast, including neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Niger and Chad. Borno state, according to her, has been most affected by the crisis in the region. This, she explained accounted for over 80 per cent of IDPs. She attributed increase in population of displaced persons in the metropolis to solid waste and conflict debris that had been accumulated. She said the accumulated debris and waste, has exposed the vulnerable populations to pollution and risk of disease infections. “It is our hope as well that the processes and procedures of the implementation would contribute significantly to attitudinal changes in caring for the environment in general,” said Kurt Cornelis, the Head of Cooperation at the EU delegation to Nigerian and ECOWAS, The Deputy Governor, Usman Durkwa said the project will create jobs to the teeming unemployed youths manage waste and debris appropriately. According to him, the project is being implemented in partnership with local institutions through Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) and Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR).
