Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state; has tasked the United Nations
(UN) and Stakeholders on addressing the root causes of Boko Haram
insurgency in Northeast.
According to him, the over a decade long terrorism, has claimed 32,000
lives with property worth $9.2 billion (N3.42 trillion) in Borno,
Adamawa and Yobe states.
Zulum gave the task at the weekend, when the UN delegation led by
Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon visited him at him
in Maiduguri, the state capital.
He attributed insurgency to endemic hunger, illiteracy, porous borders
and unemployment in communities that rely on the waters of receding
Lake Chad.
“The largest African inland lake; has already receded by 90%,” he
said; adding that over 25 million people rely on it for their means of
livelihoods in agriculture, fishing and livestock sectors of economy.
“We have 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,” he noted.
While lamenting displaced persons’ living conditions in camps, he
said: “The continuous dependent on handout by our internally displaced
persons (IDPs) 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 IDP camps, including drugs
abuse and procreation in overstretch the existing 40 camps.”
While appreciating efforts of humanitarian and development partners
render different kinds of support to IDPs, he said: “it was necessary
for the Government and the humanitarian and development partners to
shift their goals.
“There is need for us to work together with a view to shifting our
goals from our present humanitarian support to medium, and long-term
sustainable solutions.”
He noted that returning IDPs back to their ancestral homes remains the
only sustainable solution to the humanitarian crises face by the
state.
According to him, the safe return of IDPs in a dignified manner, could
enable them earn their means of livelihoods instead of food handouts.
He said in the last six months, the federal government has allocated
no less than 450 trucks of food items to Borno.
He said that this is in addition to what State’s Emergency Management
Agency SEMA) had we been providing to 1.76 million IDPs in camps.
Continued; “It’s earlier better for all of us to put our heads
together in resettling back the IDPs to their ancestral villages and
towns,” noting that this will enable them resume farming and
livelihood activities.
He also commended the efforts of the Nigerian Military for supporting
government’s commitment to the welfare of displaced persons by
airlifting food and non-food items to various camps across the state.
In his response, Kallon attributed the lingering crisis in the
northeast to a development deficit.
The deficit, according to him; comprise weak institutions, lack of
governance at the three tiers of governments, impact of climate
change, and increased competition over land, and water resources.
He added that other development deficits, include pervasive
corruption, slow economic growth with non-diversified economy.
“There is also lack of economic inquisitively coupled with the
population growth, multi-dimensional poverty and socioeconomic
inequality,” he said.
He said there is a need to adopt political solution in addressing the
crisis in northeast region.
While lamenting decade long terrorism, he said: “Your Excellency I
have always said, UN in Nigeria believes there’s no military solution
to this intractable crisis
“Borno state has suffered more than its fair share. We believe a
political and peace process is essential to compliment the gallant
military efforts if we are to achieve and sustain peace.”
He warned that the Northeast has reach alarming level of food
insecurity and hunger as result of the 11-year insurgency.
Kallon, therefore submitted four recommendations for Zulum’s
consideration for implementations end the Boko Haram war
