Borno gov in Norway, optimistic of support from UN donour conference

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State says he is optimistic of getting support from donour agencies towards tackling the devastation caused by Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.

The governor said this in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

“Shettima has arrived Oslo in Norway where he is expected to speak, as the United Nations and Government of Norway, Germany and Nigeria host a two-day donour conference.

“The conference will be focusing on humanitarian crisis arising from the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East and other communities within the Lake Chad Region.

“The conference  which began yesterday is expected to come to an end today with donours from different countries expected to make financial commitments needed by humanitarian agencies to increase aid and rebuilding of livelihoods for victims of attacks in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon,” the special adviser said.

According to Gusau, UN envoys, humanitarian workers from USAID, European Union and other parts of the world and Foreign Ministers of the three host countries are expected to grace the event.

Gusau said that Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Godfrey Onyema, would be leading Nigeria’s delegation.

He noted that Shettima was invited due to the fact that Borno was worst hit by the insurgent attacks.

According to concept note on the conference, 26 million people live in areas affected by Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria alone.

It said out of the above, 10.7 million people were in need of life-saving assistance in the most affected areas in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

The Boko Haram insurgency and its spill over into neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger had led to the displacement of more than 2.3 million people in the region.

It said that out of the said figure, 1.77 million were Internally Displaced Person’s in Nigeria.

Some 201,600 Nigerian refugees had sought asylum in Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

The refugee-hosting countries also have sizeable IDPs populations: Cameroon, 198,889, Chad, 103,876, and Niger, 121,391.