By Mohammed Abubakar,
Damaturu
Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, has praised the United Nations Organisation for assisting in addressing the humanitarian crisis in the state in the wake of Boko Haram’s devastating violence.
The governor spoke when the UN Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, and others from the UN paid courtesies on him at the Government House, Damaturu.
“We appreciate the upsurge of sympathy by local, national and international organisations, especially by the United Nations Organisation. Agencies such as World Food programme, UNICEF, United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees have assisted in the areas of nutrition, water supply and sanitation, healthcare and direct assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)”, the governor said.
Gaidam noted, however, that although the state government continues to support victims of the insurgency as they return to their communities and begin a new, normal life, the government will do with more assistance from the UN and other supporting partners “because no government or agency, however well endowed, can handle the situation alone.
“I therefore wish to use this opportunity of the visit of the UN humanitarian coordinator to make a passionate appeal for the United Nations and other humanitarian organisations and development partners to scale up their activities to address the humanitarian situation in the state. We will need more funds to rehabilitate and reconstruct basic amenities and provide packages to returning IDPs to help them resume normal life”, he said.
Kallon, who was recently appointed as the most senior UN official in Nigeria, said that the UN was poised to deepen its partnership with the state government and other stakeholders to help the state recover and rebuild from the devastations of Boko Haram.
Meanwhile,
Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has again expressed his gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, the army, airforce and other members of the nation’s security forces for significantly degrading Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and helping to restore peace across the state.
“It is a fact that the Nigerian Armed Forces supported by other security agencies, and the vigilante groups have made tremendous achievements in the fight against insurgency in the country.
“I wish to reiterate my words of commendation for President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment in the fight against insurgency… (and) for the recent capture of Camp Zero and taking control of Sambisa forest”, the governor said.
The governor spoke at the Government House when the new General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Amry, Major General Peter Dauke, visited him.
He pointed out that given the displacement of the insurgents from their main camp at Sambisa and their likely infiltration of adjacent areas, there is potential for security threats that need to be contained.
“Following the recent attack on a military formation at Buni-Yadi by the insurgents, there is need for more intense surveillance and proactive measures by the military to further allay people’s fears and fully restore socio-economic activities through the provision of adequate security in strategic locations, clearing mines and mopping up the remnants of the insurgents”, the governor said.
And, although successful, the governor observed, the war against Boko Haram terrorists had been carried out “at great costs” in terms of the lives and limps of the officers and men of the army and other security agencies involved in the fight.
“I therefore wish to again commiserate with the armed forces and families of those who made the supreme sacrifice in defending our nation. We in Yobe wish to state that their sacrifices are not in vain”, he said.
General Dauke, on his part, paid tribute to the governor for his support to the army and other security agencies, assuring that he will partner with the state government and do everything possible to advance the return of peace and security to the state and the northeast as a whole.