Niger  Calls for Support to Tackle Humanitarian Crises Caused by Terrorism

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State Governor, Mr. Mohammed Umaru Bago, is reaching out to local and international organisations to assist it in combating the humanitarian crises caused by both banditry and terrorism activities across the state.

Bago sought the support when he presided over a stakeholders’ forum on security, agriculture education and health held at the Government House on Monday. The forum was also attended by officials of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

He said that the request for support from relevant stakeholders is as a result of the fact that the nefarious activities of bandits in the state have resulted in high number of Internally Displaced Persons IDPs, large number of out-of-school children and inability of farmers to effectively engage in agricultural activities.

“Niger State needs help and we are not ashamed to tell the world. The State is having a backlash of the criminal activities of bandits and other extremists, which has affected many local government areas in the state” Bago declared.

He lamented that several steps taken by the government, including spirited effort by security agencies to address insecurity in the state have not yielded the desired result.

Bago, therefore, said that the humanitarian crisis in the state called for concern and help from development partners around the world, pointing out that collaboration with development partners like the UNDP will help in bringing succour to the people of the state.

The Resident Representative of the UNDP, Mr. Mohammed Yahaya, addressing the forum said that the round table meeting was an opportunity for the organisation to get first-hand information about the numerous challenges being faced by the state so as to enable it to come up with the best ways to address them.

“As a development partner, UNDP is committed to supporting Nigeria as a whole and Niger State in particular,” Yahaya declared.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the government and the UNDP after the forum.