EU projects resolves nearly 15,000 dispute, train 951 traditional rulers.

By: Olatunji Omirin

The Borno Government and Implementing Partners have applauded the impact of the European Union (EU) phase one projects, said its has resolved at least 14,141 disputes emanated from four Emirates in the state.

The State Lead, Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN) programme under British Council, Amin Buba Dibal, said in the first of phase of  the EU intervention that is being roundedd up known as “Borno Package” involved 17 recovery and resilience projects across the state.

He said the British Council trained 951 traditional rulers in dispute resolution within the time under review the traditional rulers have resolved 14,141 cases, adding that 82 per cent of cases emanated from four Emirates.

He said the British Council facilitated the development and adoption of a code of conduct for traditional leaders.

” Supported the establishment of four RKCs in four emirate councils (Borno, Biu, Dikwa and Gwoza) and supported to organise quarterly meetings to enhance peace and security.

” Ten active Community Peace and Safety Partnership (CPSP) platforms were created in (MMC, Jere, Mafa, Kaga, Moguno, Gubio, Hawul, Bayo, Biu and Kwaya-Kusar), while 470 safety and security cases were resolved,” Dibal said. 

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Borno Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Engr. Mustaph Gubio said the interventions has touched the lives of about three million people.

Gubio who was represented by the Special Adviser to Gov. Babagana Zulum on Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Alhaji Abdulkarim Lawan, said the interventions impacted immensely on the state post insurgency recovery effort.

He thanked EU and implementing partners for the support and urged for phase two of the project to cover resettled communities.

On his part, Commissioner of Information, Hon. Babakura Abba- Jatau made the appeal during the closure and learning workshop which signalled the end of the implementation of the phase two of Borno package funded by the EU and implemented by partners, where the various partners presented their scorecards in the post insurgency programme. 

Babakura applauded the non-kinetic approach adopted by the State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum in resolving the age long insistence. 

He appealed to the EU and partners to ensure that they transfer assets to MDAs who will ensure the sustainability of these projects long after they must have left.

“I have at different fora called for a phase two of this laudable programme so as to include our recently resettled communities. This approach has yielded a lot of dividends with over 90,000 erstwhile Boko Haram combatants and their families surrendering to our own troops. 

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“All hands should therefore be on deck to see how these erstwhile combatants would be reintegrated into the society. 

Also pleading for phase two of the project,  Babakura Abba-Jato said the state needed further support to consolidate on progress made.

Abba-Jato said that the state is currently expending it scarce resources on supporting resettled communities and catering for over 80,000 repentant insurgents in custody, a development he said was not sustainable without support from partners.

In his remarks, Dr Bunu Monguno,  the Executive Secretary of the Agency for Coordinating Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Response, lauded the intervention which said started in 2017 for kick starting the lives of many people in the state affected by the insurgency. 

Monguno who lauded all those involved in the success story urged for a second phase of the project sustain the tempo.

Meanwhile, in its message to the occassion, EU reiterates commitment to sustain the support to Borno and lauded the effort of implementing partners.

Some of the Implementing partners that made presentation of thier activities in Borno at the meeting included UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), World Health Organization (WHO), Mercy Corps and British Council (MCN).

Others are Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), UN Women, International Rescue Committee, Plan International and Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and Centre for Civilians in Conflict. 

Highlights of the meeting included testimonies from beneficiaries, group work on sustainability and the way forward.

EU projects resolves nearly 15,000 dispute, train 951 traditional rulers.