By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
The Government of Japan has released $1.5 million to fund community
stabilization activities in North-East Nigeria.
The fund donated to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is to be utilized
through an ongoing programme launched in 2016.
A statement by UNDP on Tuesday said the interventions being implemented in the
region are aimed at supporting victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the three
most affected States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
The statement said the fund will build “on ongoing activities that the
Government of Japan has been supporting which have facilitated the
rehabilitation of 20 public infrastructures and provided emergency employment to
more than 2,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and returnees.
“In addition, more than 4,000 farmers
and over 1,000 small businesses were supported with inputs and capital that
helped improve and expand their sources of livelihood. The Government of Japan
has already invested USD 6.5 million in North-East Nigeria stabilization
activities.”
The statement added that: “The funding from the Government of Japan will be
utilized within the framework of Integrated Community Stabilization Programme
which UNDP has been implementing in the region intended to directly benefit
125,000 people in the three States. An additional one million people will
indirectly benefit from interventions under the project. Implemented through an
integrated approach, the project’s goal is to support over 2,200 farmers, 500
small businesses, five community public infrastructures and provide emergency
employment to over 850 community members.”
“Stabilization efforts in North-East are helping families and communities begin
to rely less on humanitarian aid and more on themselves. This support from the
Government of Japan will go a long way in laying a foundation for development
to take place again in the region,” the statement quoted Khardiata Lo Ndiaye,
acting UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria as saying.
She added that meeting urgent early recovery needs of the crisis affected
communities remained a huge challenge requiring more partners and investment.
Shigeru Umetsu, Chargé d’affaires ad
interim of Japan to Nigeria, was also in the statement said to have reassured
that the Government of Japan will continue to support Nigerian people’s efforts
aimed at restoring stability and livelihoods for the communities in in the
North-East region.
