Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has called for a strategic shift from emergency humanitarian interventions to sustainable recovery through increased investment in housing, livelihood opportunities and critical infrastructure for communities affected by insurgency in Northeast Nigeria.
Governor Zulum made the call on Wednesday during the 25th anniversary celebration of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Nigeria, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel. The event also featured the unveiling of the organisation’s roadmap for the next 25 years.
The governor commended IOM for its longstanding humanitarian interventions, particularly its contributions to saving lives, supporting displaced populations and improving living conditions for vulnerable families in Borno State and other parts of the Northeast.
Reflecting on the devastating impact of insurgency, Zulum recalled how thousands of families were forced to abandon their homes, farmlands and ancestral communities, seeking refuge in internally displaced persons’ camps. He noted that the humanitarian crisis extended beyond Nigeria’s borders, affecting neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, and underscoring the importance of regional cooperation and international partnerships.
He emphasised that while emergency relief remains essential, humanitarian interventions must evolve into sustainable recovery programmes that address the root causes of prolonged displacement and enable affected populations to rebuild their lives.
The governor therefore urged development partners to prioritise investments in permanent and semi-permanent housing, livelihood restoration, economic empowerment, infrastructure development and environmental rehabilitation.
According to him, such interventions would accelerate the resettlement process, strengthen community resilience and create opportunities for displaced persons to regain their independence, dignity and self-reliance.
Zulum reaffirmed the Borno State Government’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with IOM and other development organisations to advance recovery, restore livelihoods and consolidate peace and stability across conflict-affected communities in the Northeast.
The anniversary celebration brought together government officials, diplomats, development partners and other stakeholders to reflect on IOM’s 25 years of operations in Nigeria and explore renewed partnerships in migration management, humanitarian response, sustainable recovery and long-term development.
