By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
As major donor to the UNDP 1000 housing estates, The German Foreign Affairs Minister, Annalena Baerbock has visited Borno state to assess the regional stabilization facility projects coordinated and implemented at Nganaram community in Mafa LGA of the state .
The Minister added that the visit will also give her the opportunity to interact with the community women and children and to ascertain areas of additional support and interventions.
She spoke through interpreters, while the Director General , State Emergency Management Agency SEMA, Hajiya Yabawa Kolo and Special Adviser to the Governor on MDAs, Dr. Mairo Mandara, conducted her round some house where she interacted with some vulnerable women and children in the community.
The German Foreign minister further acknowledged and appreciated the reception accorded to her and the traditional title bestowed on her as a distinguished visitor to the community.
Earlier in his remark, Governor Babagana Zulum said”, the building communities in the state would help in fighting terrorism, give children future through education, housing and good healthcare facilities, etc.
“We are therefore, working together as European partners, as German partners in peace stabilization process here, and we would work on security, education, and also supporting health.
“Education is the best promise for the coming future and we can see how important it’s here to engage the communities because people know the best way to build future for their children”, Zulum said.
He explained that 437 male heads of households were to each have a pair of bull and Heifer, while 64 female heads of households were to each receive a pair of she-goat and a he-goat. Additionally, 503 housewives were each to get a pair of she-goats and one he-goat.
Zulum also said each of all the resettled households were to get two 50 kg bags of rice and maize, a gallon of vegetable oil, a mattress, plastic mat, blanket and clothing materials.
Zulum however noted that without the German government intervention, many youths would have joined Boko Haram insurgents groups in the Borno and even across the North east region, stressing that, the huge supports from the German government has curtailed the escalation of Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria and other places across Europe and world.
“Without this support, I believe that many youths would have joined ISWAB, joined ISIS and that would have caused problem not only to the North eastern states and the entire northern Nigeria but also to the entire Europe and the world, “Zulum said.
The governor further revealed that the Regional Stabilization Facility amounted to €50 million with German Government as the highest contributor which had tremendously supported the government and people of Borno State.
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