The Federal Government, UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Japanese Government have launched a new project to support early recovery activities in the North-East of Nigeria.
UNDP’s Head of Communication Nigeria, Mr Lucky Musonda, disclosed this in a statement, on Friday, in Abuja.
Musonda said that the project was launched following the release of 1,036 million dollars by the Government of Japan.
He said that the support would fund interventions aimed at restoring means of livelihoods for victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the three most affected States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
“The new UNDP project in partnership with the government of three States, builds on activities that have been implemented since 2015 which have facilitated the rehabilitation of 11 infrastructures including schools and health clinics.
“During the period, emergency employment opportunities created benefitted for more than 500 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and returnees, close to 2000 farmers and about 500 small businesses.
“Who directly benefitted from the almost two years of Japanese support to the region.’’
Musonda said that the new project would rehabilitate more than five public facilities building on the success of the past interventions providing catalytic programmatic evidence to further scale-up support in the region.
He said it would provide emergency employment to an estimated 850 people and support over 1000 farmers and 200 small scale businesses in the region.
“With over 5 million people currently facing acute food insecurity and over 2 million still displaced in the region, the support from the Government of Japan will go a long way in complementing ongoing efforts.
“It will support the effort aimed at giving back hope to the people who have been affected by the seven yearlong conflict,” Musonda quoted Edward Kallon, UNDP Resident Representative, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, as saying.
He said Kallon reaffirmed UNDP’s continuing commitment to supporting rebuilding efforts and livelihoods support to stimulate early recovery and growth in the region.
“UNDP has recently established a fully-functional sub-office in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
“I believe that this project will be an essential component of the integrated Early Recovery Programme in the region.”
Also, Musonda said the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Sadanobu Kusaoke, reassured that the Government of Japan would continue to support Nigeria’s efforts.
He said that Kusaoke assured of his country’s support, aimed at restoring stability and livelihoods for the communities in in the North East region.
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