News
We will stand behind you – UN assures, as States Action Plans for Durable Solutions in Northeast are launched
We will stand behind you – UN assures, as States Action Plans for Durable Solutions in Northeast are launched
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government and United Nations have launched the States Action Plans on Durable Solutions to Internal Displacement in Nigeria targeted at ending the displacement in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) States brought about by Boko Haram crisis.
United Nations Assistant Secretary General, and Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement, Robert Piper, speaking at
the launch held at the Presidential Villa Abuja, on Tuesday said: “We will stand behind you. Let me reiterate our commitment on behalf of the United Nations: We will keep supporting on the ground; We will help rally donors; We will chase missing partners; We will celebrate your successes,”
The Action Plans, according to him, are anchored in international standards and the Kampala Convention; driven by real political leadership; and are geared to mobilize development investments.
Piper explained that: “The plans you launch today provide a model of how governments can take responsibility for ending displacement.The plans recognise that displaced people can choose between going back home, properly integrating where they are right now or relocating elsewhere in the country.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima, on his part, emphasised that: “We must invest in sustainable development, education, and economic opportunities to build resilient communities. By doing so, we not only address the immediate needs of the displaced but also create a foundation for a more stable and prosperous future.”
He noted that the launch of the state Action Plans was meant to craft solutions that would outlive the present generation, and offer future generations a place of hope, a home for all, and a land of opportunity where dreams could be pursued without worry.
Shettima noted, “As we launch these State Action Plans, let us commit to collaborative efforts that transcend borders and political divides. Let us harness the strength of our partnerships, both local and international, to bring about lasting change. The task ahead is immense, but with determination, unity, and a clear vision, we can make a profound difference.”
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed commended the governments of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe for their actions to scale up solution pathways in their state action plans, noting that achieving durable solutions is a priority for both Nigeria and for the United Nations secretary general.
“Finding durable solutions to internal displacement is central to achieving the sustainable development goals in Nigeria and beyond, and they must become an integral part of development plans in areas affected by forced displacement.” Said the Deputy Secretary-General.
She emphasized that durable solutions required long term investments in infrastructure, education, health care, as well as in security and the enablers social contract with the people.
Mohammed added that “Our joint efforts must offer the promise of inclusive governance, human dignity, and a world where we leave no one behind.”
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Richard Montgomery, who spoke on behalf of the informal North-East Ambassador Group, emphasised that the group shared a collective interest in government’s efforts to bring peace to the North-East.
“We stand in support of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration. As regards the durable solutions to internal displacement in the North-east, Montgomery noted, “No one country has the answer. We must join hands to ensure sustainable solutions to internally displaced persons (IDPs) issues in Nigeria.”
At the launch were the Governor of Borno State, H.E. Prof Babagana Zulum; Governor of Yobe State, H.E. Mai Mala Buni; Governor of Benue State, H.E. Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia; and Hon. Commissioner for Reconstruction Rehabilitation Reintegration & Human Service, Bello Hamman Diram, representing Adamawa State Governor, H.E. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
The publication of the United Nations Secretary General High Level Panel’s Report on Internal Displacement, and the accompanying Action Agenda on Internal Displacement created a pivotal moment in how durable solutions in situations of internal displacement are approached.
Building on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, the renewed attention to durable solutions puts a significant emphasis towards government-led and -owned processes.
In line with this recommendation, and following the visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Borno in May 2022, theauthorities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe initiated a process to develop their own action plans to address internal displacement as part of overall and long term development of their state.
Progress towards durable solutions requires an approach that steps away from a needs-based way of working towards an area-based approach. The activities, processes and budget elaborated on in the State Action Plans, ensure that attention is given to all communities affected by displacement – including internally displaced persons, returnees as well as members of the host communities. Addressing forced displacement in this way bears the promise for the State Action Plans to contribute to the overall development of the state and to leave no one behind.
Through their State Action Plans, the authorities acknowledge the need to ensure that methodologies, processes, and activities which form part of the vision to achieve durable solutions need to be evaluated in a timely manner with an aim to amend and strengthen their approach to achieving solutions. As an integral part of the overall governance system
for durable solutions, the people-centered approach described in the monitoring and
evaluation chapters will significantly contribute to ensure displacement affected communities participate in the overall development of the state.
All plans recognize the need to maintain humanitarian assistance where needed, work around preventing future displacement andprogressing solutions where possible.
Driving these plans forward and recognizing the longer-term systematic sustainability that is needed, ambitious budgets have beendeveloped. While a significant amount of these budgets is reserved for access to housing –including elements related to secure tenure –they cater to a wider set of interventions such as economic development and access to services.
We will stand behind you – UN assures, as States Action Plans for Durable Solutions in Northeast are launched
News
Cuba Blames U.S. Sanctions for Deepening Energy Crisis, Responds Cautiously to Reported $100m Aid Offer
Cuba Blames U.S. Sanctions for Deepening Energy Crisis, Responds Cautiously to Reported $100m Aid Offer
By: Michael Mike
The government of Cuba has intensified accusations against the United States over the island’s worsening electricity and economic crisis, while cautiously welcoming reports of a proposed $100 million American aid package amid growing humanitarian concerns.
In separate statements issued this week, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and government officials argued that the country’s severe power shortages, fuel scarcity, and economic hardship are direct consequences of decades-long U.S. sanctions and what Havana described as an increasingly aggressive “energy blockade.”
The latest developments come as Cuba experiences one of its most difficult periods in recent years, marked by prolonged blackouts, shortages of food and medicine, rising inflation, and mounting public frustration.
Díaz-Canel said the situation affecting Cuba’s National Power System had become “especially tense,” with authorities forecasting a deficit of more than 2,000 megawatts during peak evening demand.
According to the Cuban leader, fuel shortages alone were responsible for preventing the generation of at least 1,100 megawatts of electricity, significantly worsening blackouts across the country.
He accused Washington of deliberately obstructing fuel supplies to Cuba by threatening sanctions and punitive measures against countries and companies willing to trade with Havana.
“This dramatic worsening has a single cause: the genocidal energy blockade that the U.S. has imposed on our country,” Díaz-Canel declared.
The Cuban president argued that recent improvements in electricity supply during April demonstrated the direct relationship between fuel imports and power generation capacity.
He noted that the arrival of a single fuel tanker — out of the eight Cuba reportedly requires monthly — temporarily reduced electricity deficits and mitigated blackouts, though outages did not disappear entirely.
Díaz-Canel further accused sections of the U.S. media and political establishment of attempting to portray Cuba’s economic crisis as solely the result of government mismanagement while ignoring the impact of sanctions and economic restrictions.
According to him, neither the decades-old U.S. embargo nor the additional sanctions imposed during the administration of former President Donald Trump had succeeded in overthrowing the Cuban Revolution.
He alleged that more recent executive measures targeting fuel supplies, foreign trade, and investment in Cuba were specifically designed to increase suffering among ordinary citizens and provoke unrest against the government.
Despite the criticism, Havana has also reacted cautiously to reports that the United States Department of State had formally proposed an aid package valued at $100 million for Cuba.
In a separate government statement, Cuban authorities said it remained unclear whether the proposed assistance would come in the form of direct financial support or material aid such as fuel, food, or medicine.
The Cuban government said it was prepared to consider foreign aid offered in good faith and expressed openness to working with the Catholic Church in implementing humanitarian support efforts.
“We are willing to hear the details of the offer and how it would be implemented,” the statement said, while warning against any attempt to use humanitarian assistance for political leverage.
Havana maintained that the most meaningful support Washington could provide would be the easing of economic, commercial, financial, and energy restrictions imposed on the island.
Cuban officials argued that sanctions had intensified “as never before” in recent months, severely affecting nearly every sector of the economy and worsening living conditions for millions of citizens.
The latest exchange reflects the complicated and often confrontational relationship between Havana and Washington, which has remained strained for more than six decades despite intermittent attempts at diplomatic rapprochement.
While Cuba insists that U.S. sanctions are the central driver of its current crisis, critics of the Cuban government continue to point to structural inefficiencies, state control of the economy, and policy failures as major contributors to the country’s prolonged economic difficulties.
Nevertheless, the apparent willingness of both sides to discuss humanitarian assistance suggests a potentially significant, though cautious, opening for limited engagement amid escalating hardship on the island.
Cuba Blames U.S. Sanctions for Deepening Energy Crisis, Responds Cautiously to Reported $100m Aid Offer
Troops Arrest Suspected Gunrunner in Taraba State
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), in collaboration with Defence Intelligence Agency operatives and local vigilantes, have arrested a suspected gunrunner in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Security sources said the arrest was made at about 7:45 a.m. on May 13 during an intelligence-led operation at Iware community in the area.
The suspect was reportedly apprehended following credible intelligence linking him to arms trafficking activities within the Amaseyo general area.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspect was allegedly involved in illegal arms dealing, prompting his immediate arrest by the joint security team.
The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing further investigation, while security agencies say efforts are ongoing to dismantle arms trafficking networks operating within the state and surrounding areas.
Troops Arrest Suspected Gunrunner in Taraba State
Troops Rescue Kidnap Victim During Patrol in Kogi
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation MESA have rescued a kidnap victim abandoned by suspected terrorists along the Obajana–Jakura–Tajimi axis in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Security sources said the rescue operation was carried out at about 9:00 a.m. on May 13 by troops of 12 Brigade during a fighting patrol along the old Obajana–Jakura–Tajimi road.
According to the report, the troops discovered the victim after suspected kidnappers abandoned him while fleeing from the advancing security personnel.
The rescued victim was subsequently reunited with his family after the operation.
Security patrols and clearance operations have continued along the route and adjoining communities as part of ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other criminal activities in the area.
Cuba Blames U.S. Sanctions for Deepening Energy Crisis, Responds Cautiously to Reported $100m Aid Offer
Troops Neutralise Two Terrorists During Clearance Operations in Borno
Governor Buni moves to appeal to guber aspirants to step down for Wali in Yobe
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