EU offers N60 billion grant to Borno government over Boko Haram
- European Union has given Borno state government N60 billion grant
- The grant is to help the state government implement nine key post-insurgency projects across the state
- Most infrastructure in the state have been destroyed by the Boko Haram terrorists
Financial respite has come to Borno state as the European Union (EU), on Tuesday, January 23, announced a grant of 143 million Euros (about N60.1 billion) to the state.
The grant is to help the state government implement nine key post-insurgency projects across the state.
The grant which was tagged the ‘Borno Package’, is to support the state government in three main areas of Response, Recovery and Resilience in the next three years, Premium Times reports.
Speaking at the official launching of the nine programmes, Kurt Cornelis, the EU head of cooperation, said nine humanitarian agencies that are already stationed in the state will implement the programmes.
According to him, the implementation partners comprise Action Against Hunger, Alima, department for international development (DFID), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Mercy Corps, Norwegian Refugee Council and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
20 million Euros out of the money would go to the World Bank as fund to service the technical needs of the projects, the EU said.
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He said the grant would be implemented under the coordination of Borno State Ministry for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR).
The state commissioner for RRR, Babagana Umara Zulum, while speaking on the programme said the projects would be implemented mainly within Maiduguri and Bama towns, Premium Times reports further.
“Th UNDP/ WHO is to intervene in 20 communities of Borno state by rehabilitating 20 primary schools, three secondary schools and provision of water in 20 communities and sanitation needs in some public health facilities; The NRC is to drill 28 stiff aquifer boreholes, 278 tube wells with pumping units in addition to supporting farmers with input supports.
"The FAO is to support about 70, 000 households with agricultural inputs, lives stocks and support for arid farming; the ACN, Alima and IRC are to provide basic health facilities, water and sanitation in some communities, as well as livelihood supports for the vulnerable ones.
“The Mercy Corps will provide grants for agricultural purpose, rehabilitate vocational training centres, and facilitate cash transfer for about 10,000 beneficiaries and rehabilitation of community assets.
“Of the total amount, €123 million ((N50.4 billion) is for the rehabilitation and restoration of basic services, health, education, water, sanitation and livelihood, while the sum of €20 million (N8.4 billion) is voted for technical service managed by the World Bank,” said Mr Zulum.
In his reaction, Borno state governor, who was represented by Usman Durkwa, his deputy, commended the EU for coming to the aid of the state for the third time.
“The Boko Haram crisis didn’t only displace our people but created over 50,000 orphans who are mostly girl-child.
“Government has built over 20 mega Schools for the education of this orphans within the capital city, while more schools are being built across the state capital to cater for the rising education needs of our people,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that the Nigerian Air Force explained that it bought new aircraft from the United States to consolidate in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.
Nigeria has continued the fight against insurgency despite initial report that they had been decimated.
The spokesperson of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, in response to questions about why Nigeria was still purchasing fighter jets in spite of reports of success against the insurgents, insisted that success was being recorded and the new addition was to consolidate on the effort being made.
Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram - on Legit.ng TV:
Source: Legit.ng
