By Gbenga Akingbule
Internally displaced persons in different parts of the North East Region may soon have reasons to smile again following a recent pledge by the United Nations (UN) to support the North East Development Commission NEDC in resettling them back to their communities.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 13-year-old insurgency had led to the displacement of over 2 Million persons with Borno State alone having about 1.6 Million the state Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum has continued to support the IDPs and resettled many back to their ancestral communities.
UN Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on internal displacement, Robert Piper made the pledge during a visit to the NEDC headquarters in Maiduguri, the state capital.
According to Mr Piper, ” solution to displacement require long time investment” noting that ” there’re not what you can do overnight.”
MD NEDC, Mohammed Alkali and UN Asst Secretary General Mr Robert Piper
He said “We came to Borno firstly to learn about what is being done so far and secondly to support ”
The UN envoy who described the NEDC as a long-term investor in the region commended the commission for its long-term plan, stating that he’s ready to partner with the NEDC.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali earlier stated that the activities of the insurgents have declined within the region and will enable the Commission to carry out more of its developmental intervention and reduce the number of displaced persons.
“I’m sure, with the new approach of the UN, there could be a very cohesive and articulated approach to IDPs.” The NEDC boss said.
