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BY INUSA NDAHI, MAIDUGURI
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has insisted that his administration must monitor and coordinate all activities of International Non- Governmental Organizations (INGOs) and other humanitarian partners operating in the state.
The governor made his position known on Wednesday at the opening of a 3-Day
International workshop on Civil-Security Cooperation in Humanitarian interventions in the northeast, which took place at the Multi Purpose Hall, Government House in Maislduguri.
The Workshop which is timely was organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, with its minister Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faruk, security chiefs and other humanitarian partners in attendance.
Zulum while declaring the workshop open, however recognizes the contributions of INGOs and other Development partners in managing the plights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state, but reiterated that without proper coordination, the issues of project dublications/interventions hitherto characterised the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement process by the state government would continue to linger which may likely hinders progress.
In his remarks, President Buhari represented by the Minister of Defence, Magashi charged military and other security forces to intensify their effort in ending the lingering Boko Haram crisis and other related security challenges in the North East and the country as a whole.
He also charged the ministry of Humanitarian affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to be up and doing in managing the plight of IDPs in the region.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Daryl in her address said, the ministry has as one of its core mandates the development of humanitarian policies and the effective coordination of National and International Humanitarian interventions in Nigeria.
“It is apparent that where civil-security relations are poorly managed, humanitarian action may inadvertently compound other security problems.
“Meanwhile, it has become obvious that it is increasingly more difficult for humanitarian organizations to operate independently in humanitarian environments.
“The presence of security operatives in many of the crisis ridden areas make those communities safe and accessible for humanitarian actors to carry out their activities.
“Therefore, the need to ensure cordial, and constructive relations between civil and security actors cannot be over emphasized.” She said.
Faruk however said, the differences in the guiding principles and rules of engagements of the military, security agencies and the international and local Non-Governmental Organizations have been the bane of productive co-existence in the North East. Pointing out that the Workshop is designed as a veritable platform for civil and security actors in the Humanitarian environment in North Eastern Nigeria to interact, share ideas and best practices that will guide their activities and operations in the North East theatre of conflict.