Borno Recovery: Zulum Urges UN, Donors and Private Sector to Scale Up Investment

MAIDUGURI — Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has urged the United Nations, donor agencies, development partners, international financial institutions and the private sector to deepen investment and collaboration with the state and Federal Governments to accelerate Borno’s transition from humanitarian response to sustainable development.

Zulum spoke on Thursday at the Government House in Maiduguri during the fourth Project Board Meeting of the United Nations Offer to Support the Borno Model and the Steering Committee Meeting of the Peacebuilding Fund.

The meeting attracted representatives of the Federal Government, United Nations, development partners and donor agencies.

According to the governor, the decision to hold the meeting in Maiduguri reflected Borno’s growing importance in national and international efforts to promote peacebuilding, stabilisation, reconstruction and sustainable development in the North-East.

Zulum expressed appreciation to the United Nations, donor countries and development partners for their financial and technical support to communities affected by more than a decade of insurgency.

He said their interventions had helped move the state beyond emergency humanitarian relief to areas including reconciliation, reintegration, livelihood development, social cohesion and institutional strengthening.

“We recognise that progress in Borno is a product of strong partnerships among the state government, the United Nations, development partners, communities, the Federal Government and other stakeholders,” the governor said.

From humanitarian aid to sustainable development

Zulum said the development of the Borno Model legal framework represented a major achievement in the partnership between the state government and the United Nations.

He said the framework would strengthen the institutional foundation for peace, recovery, social cohesion and development.

The governor described Borno as being at a critical stage of transition, with the state gradually moving from humanitarian intervention towards reconstruction, recovery, resilience and long-term development.

He listed rebuilding communities affected by conflict, restoring basic services, expanding education and skills training, creating jobs, supporting women and young people, strengthening local institutions and helping displaced and returning residents rebuild their lives as major priorities.

He further urged increased investment in agriculture, SMEs, vocational training, digital opportunities and value-chain development.

“With the right investment in infrastructure, skills and enterprise development, Borno can move from being viewed primarily through the lens of crisis to being recognised as a centre of economic opportunity in the North-East,” Zulum said.

The governor revealed that more than 70 per cent of the Borno State Government’s budget had been committed over the past seven years to security, support for internally displaced persons and refugees, reconstruction of schools, houses, health facilities and markets, and livelihood opportunities for people affected by insurgency.

He said the spending was intended to restore dignity, strengthen resilience and consolidate peace in the state.

“Our collective objective must now be to build on what has been achieved, scale up what works, and ensure that the people of Borno fully benefit from the transition from humanitarian assistance to medium- and longer-term sustainable and durable solutions,” he said.

Minister seeks stronger financing partnerships

Zulum commended Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohammed Malick Fall and UNDP Resident Representative Elsie Attafuah for their commitment to Borno’s recovery.

He also recognised the contributions of Germany, the UK, Switzerland, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the military, police, Federal Ministry of Justice and other partners.

He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing the leadership, institutional backing and coordination needed to sustain development programmes supported by external partners after their project lifespans end.

Bagudu, in his remarks, said the challenges confronting the North-East should be seen not only from a humanitarian perspective but also as an opportunity for long-term investment and sustainable development.

He called for coordinated financing and closer cooperation between the Federal Government, state governments, the United Nations and development partners.

The minister commended Zulum for what he described as trusted leadership in coordinating the state’s response to its complex challenges.

He also praised the UN, development organisations and donor partners for their continued support for communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Fall and Attafuah separately reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to supporting the project and commended the governor’s leadership in advancing Borno’s recovery agenda.

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