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From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The European Union (EU) and the German government have committed about N1.9 billion (€1.2 million) to support a programme for the protection of citizens’ rights and capacity to make inputs in policy formulation in the two northeastern states of Borno and Adamawa.
This was disclosed at a round-table event organised in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital, to unveil the new citizens’ project: Support to Improving Social Cohesion through Community Planning in the two states.
Stakeholders at the roundtable, including senior government officials from Borno and Adamawa states, experts, and traditional and religious leaders, noted that social cohesion, especially in an area faced with over a decade of violence, will be achieved through advocacy and capacity building for citizens to understand their roles in their communities.
Project Coordinator of the implementing international development partner, Oxfam, Mr Samuel Lashom, said the fund will be used in an advocacy programme, community mobilisation including town hall meetings, capacity building, and addressing poverty.
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“The EU and German government are supporting the project with €1.2 million. It is a transparent process and the three local governments can monitor how this money is spent,” Lashom announced.
He disclosed that the German Federal Ministry for International Cooperation, through its international cooperation agency (GIZ), is collaborating with Oxfam and the governments of Borno and Adamawa for the social cohesion project targeting 3,100 persons.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, thanked the EU and German government for their intervention.
Represented by the Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Alhaji Isa Haladu, the Governor assured the development partners of government cooperation to ensure the project succeeds.
