German Envoy, UNDP Boss Unveil Borno’s Mass Housing Units,ICT Centre


By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annet Gunther, and the Country Representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the country, Elsie Attafuah, unveiled two projects executed by the administration of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, in Monguno town of the state.

While the Ambassador unveiled resettlement houses for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), the UNDP chief commissioned a 100-person-capacity ICT centre to facilitate digital education.

Gov. Zulum’s media aide, Abdurrahman Bundi, said in a statement on Friday, January 17, that the housing estate comprises 1,000 units of two-bedroom semi-detached low-cost houses and another 900 semi-permanent shelters with basic amenities such as a health centre and a borehole for water provision.

The statement said: “About 1,874 IDP families from 14 communities benefited from the housing project. Each of them received food and non-food items, N50,000 cash for the household heads and another N20,000 for each housewife.”

In her goodwill message, Gunther commended Gov. Zulum for the laudable projects that can assist those affected by insurgency pick up the pieces of their lives again.

She said: “This housing project is also a great example of collaboration between the government of Borno State and international partners. Funding for the housing units comes from both the state government and international partners.”

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Attafuah corroborated Gunther’s commendation of Zulum’s administration, noting that the housing project aligns with UNDP’s regional stabilisation effort which is to work towards peace restoration in communities in the Lake Chad area.

Zulum, in his address, explained that while the German government funded the construction of 500 permanent and another 900 semi-permanent shelters, the State government constructed the remaining 500 houses and provided amenities such as a health centre and potable water, among others.

“A Letter of Agreement (LOA) was signed between Borno State Government and UNDP in 2020 under the RS German initiative to start the construction of 500 housing units.

“In August 2023, another LOA was signed under RSF German Reintegration Funds aimed at completing the 500 permanent housing units, providing an additional 900 semi-permanent shelters, and installing 375 solar streetlights,” the governor said.

He added that in addition to these efforts, the State Government had also constructed 500 permanent housing units and provided toilets for the temporary shelters, bringing the total number of houses constructed to 1,900.

According to Zulum, the accommodation will play a crucial role in the voluntary decongestion and eventual closure of some IDP camps in Monguno, ensuring a smoother transition for resettling families.

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The governor expressed gratitude to the Governments of Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Egypt and the European Union, among other donors for supporting the State.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Germany for their generous contribution and to UNDP for their unwavering partnership.

“Additionally, we thank all other donors and contributors to the RSF, UN OFFER, and other funding initiatives dedicated to promoting peace, stability, reintegration and development in Borno State,” Zulum stated.

Dignitaries, including the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Foud; Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno; the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, Esty Sotyoko; the head of UNDP Office in Maiduguri, Matthew Alao; community leaders and citizens, gathered to witness the commissioning ceremony.


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