Body pledges to sustain humanitarian, psychosocial support to North East

The UNFPA Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms RatiDzai Ndhlovu, made the pledge on behalf of the UN agencies in the country at the North East humanitarian stakeholders meeting organised by the Federal Government in Maiduguri.

Ndhovu said that the humanitarian situation require a multi sectorial response.

``Nigeria has the great capacity to deliver what it want to do, Nigeria equally has the capacity to restore the shattered lives of the IDPs; Nigeria is determined to succeed in this regard.

``In search of all this is the government ownership in leadership among all stakeholders complement and support government effort.

``And I think Presence of the Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo here, the presence of Governors of North East ,Deputy Governors, royal highnesses here present and all dignitaries present in this hall today is clear testimony of Nigeria's determination to make a change.

``Allow me to commend the Government of Nigeria, especially NEMA and SEMA, for the great work that they are doing in supporting and coordinating the humanitarian response.

``I wish to express great appreciation to the military that is fighting to end insurgency and also ensuring that security is there for us the humanitarian workers to enable us do our work.

``It is quite elevating to notice the change that is happening. As you know there was a time we could never hold a meeting in Maiduguri.

``There was a time when we as the humanitarian agencies could not even think of holding a training workshop here in Maiduguri, but here we are today; it is a sign that we are making strive in the right direction and we need to keep it up.

``I would like also to give special commendation to Governor Kashim Shettima's steadfastness, resilience and determination to restore quality of life to the people of Borno state.

``I was here about four months ago and I am here today, and I have seen a change already.

``This interactive forum is very critical because it afford us opportunity to come up with the most effective avenue to discuss ways that would enable us to come up with a consensus centred at most effective strategies that allow us to achieve what we want to achieve.

``Is it durable for us to restore peace so let us work together, put differences aside and work together for the progress of Borno and the country," said Ndhlovu.

In his remarks, Shettima said today marks another significant day in our long progress to forever ban insurgency from our lands and to place the North East region on the trajectory sustainable growth and development, peaceful coexistence, security and stability.

``It is a well known fact that since the year 2009 our region has been caught in war that is imposed by unquestionable matters of health, a war of brutality that has no correlation human history.

``A war that is chracterised by wanton destruction of lives and properties, genocidal scale, fatal destruction of towns and territorial occupation by terrorists.

``Mass abduction of innocent vulnerable boys and girls and even adults, displacing of millions of Nigerians into refugees in their own land.

``But it is equally well known fact that in the last six months we have witnessed a new impetus in the counter insurgency effort so much so that a new hope of optimism is assured that the end of all this madness is finally in sight.

``Thanks to the ample political will demonstrated by President Muhammadu Buhari which has manifested in the creation of regional international anti-terrorist alliances as well as the remarkable improvement in the training and equipping of our armed forces.

``Our gallant and patriotic troops have become better motivated and have taken the war to the insurgents and have largely succeeded in degrading their capacity as a striking force.

``Such that this undesirable elements no longer constitute a potent threat to the Nigerian territorial integrity, thus despite the renewed but desperate and cowardly campaign of bomb detonation currently undertaken by the ungodly Boko Haram in the process maiming and killing multiples of innocent people.

``We all know that their days are numbered," said Shettima.