By correspondent in Minna.
Niger state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to end insecurity, agriculture, education, and health challenges confronting the state.
Our correspondent that the MoU, signed in Minna is also aimed at establishing pathway for sustainable peace and security in the state.
Speaking shortly after signing of the MoU at a round-table in Government House, Minna,Governor Mohammed Umar Bago expressed worry over the seeming no end in sight to security challenges in the state.
The Governor Bago lamented that the activities of armed bandits had resulted in not only more deaths of citizens in eight local government areas of the state but also increased the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and large number of out-of-school children.
“Unfortunately, most of the farmers in the affected areas, due to interference from the armed men, no longer go to their farms or effectively engage in farming as the invaders now control the farm lands, also dictate for the farmers on what happen to their crop or farm produce,” the governor said.
Humanitarian crisis created by insecurity, according to Governor, Bago called for concern and help from development partners, adding that collaborations with the likes of the UNDP would help in no mean way to bringing succour to the affected communities.
Bago added, “Niger state needs help and we are not ashamed to tell it to whoever cares to give us listening ears, that our state is experiencing serious backlash of criminal activities caused, basically, by extremist groups that affecting many of our local government areas”.
Despite several measures taken by the state government through relentless efforts by combined security forces to address the situation insecurity including the use of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, the desired results is yet to be achieved, according to the governor.
Responding, the UNDP Resident Representative, Malam Mohammed Yahaya, said the round table provided an opportunity for the agency to get first-hand details about the level of insecurity and other challenges Niger state is grappling with.
While pledging the support of the agency in addressing the challenges Yahaya told his host that as a development partner, the UNDP is committed towards supporting Nigeria as a whole,and Niger state in particular to end some of the man-made distractions affecting its citizens.
Contributing, the Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers,who is also the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, expressed gratitude to the UNDP for its readiness to collaborate with the State for the betterment of the state and its citizens.
The traditional ruler, who conferred the traditional title of ‘Shugaban Raya Kasan Niger’, meaning ‘Vanguard of Peace in the Development of Niger state’ on Mohammed Yahaya, commended the UNDP for contributing to the growth and development of the state.
Mallam Bologi Ibrahim, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, in a state he released to journalists in Minna,reports that the event also witnessed exchange of gifts between the UNDP delegation and Governor Bago.
Edited by Dada Ahmed .
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