Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced the launch of a new €61 million United Nations Peacebuilding Fund Programme aimed at consolidating peace and supporting recovery efforts in the state over the next two years.
Zulum disclosed this while briefing journalists after the fourth UN Offer Board and Peacebuilding Fund Steering Committee meeting held at the Government House, Maiduguri.
The governor said the meeting formally marked the conclusion of the first phase of the programme, which was supported by Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and other development partners over the past two years.
According to him, the funds were used to implement peacebuilding interventions across the state, with the success of the first phase prompting the launch of a new and expanded programme.
“Another new phase of the UN offer has also been launched, amounting to about 61 million euro, which should be spent within the next two years,” Zulum said.
He disclosed that Germany had already pledged about €10 million to the new basket fund, expressing optimism that the United Kingdom, Switzerland and other development partners would also make contributions.
Zulum added that the Borno State Government would contribute to the basket fund as part of efforts to demonstrate ownership and ensure effective implementation of the programme.
The governor commended the UN Resident Coordinator, the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other development partners for their continued support for peacebuilding and recovery efforts in Borno.
He also appreciated the governments of Germany, the UK and Switzerland for their contributions, stressing that sustained international partnerships remained critical to rebuilding communities affected by insurgency and achieving lasting peace in the state.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, described Borno’s multi-partner coordination framework as a model that could be replicated across Nigeria and other countries facing similar humanitarian and development challenges.
Bagudu said the framework provides a unified funding mechanism and promotes a shared understanding among government, the United Nations and development partners, enabling stakeholders to address Borno’s post-insurgency recovery needs in a coordinated and sustainable manner.
Also speaking, the Chargé d’Affaires of Germany to Nigeria, Johannes Lehne, announced that the German government would contribute an additional €10 million towards implementation of the programme.
“We had a very successful meeting on the implementation of the Borno model. Germany will commit another 10 million Euros to this endeavour for the next two years, and we hope under the leadership of the governor and the government of Nigeria this will be a big success and bring peace and prosperity to Borno State,” Lehne said.
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohammed Malick Fall, said stakeholders were working together to address challenges confronting Borno and the wider region through coordinated interventions.
Fall stressed that effective implementation of the renewed programme would require strong leadership and vision, which he said had been demonstrated by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and Governor Zulum.
He said the renewed partnership would further strengthen ongoing efforts to promote peace, recovery and sustainable development in Borno State.