ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Anew group, Network for the Sustainable Development and Empowerment in Borno South (NSDE) has stressed its determination to champion rehabilitation, reconstruction, reintegration and resettlement while stressing the position of reconciliation in Southern Borno which has been ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.
Brig. Gen. DB Shaljaba (rtd), coordinator of NSDE revealed that the group is non-partisan, non-religious, and not-for-profit NGO purposely set up with key focus on Security, Education Intervention, Healthcare Support/Intervention, Water Supply and Food and Shelter as well as Empowerment, Humanitarian and other developmental service to improve the quality of life of the people of the area.
According to the coordinator, as the battle against Boko Haram intensifies, the time has come to pay attention to some core issues which will shape the post-insurgency era.
In a recent letter to the elders and stakeholders from Southern Borno, the group observed in the post-insurgency development plans and mapping of master plan for Rehabilitation, Rebuilding, Resettlement, Reintegration and reconciliation, the North East region has not attracted the due attention it deserves.
He noted that many of the areas have not been captured in the four (reports) authorised by Multinational development partners which has now been submitted to the presidency and which will serve as the basis for the Buhari plan for the North East (BPNE)
“Most of the Humanitarian assistance coming into Borno are not reaching the affected areas of Southern Borno, especially the IDPs in Biu, Gombe, Damboa, Chibok, and Askira Uba and other several informal (host community camps), as we all know that majority of our people are not in IDPs camp administered by government. Aside a few camps hosting Gwoza and Damboa IDPs, the Camp in Biu is almost unknown to many as far as humanitarian relief is concerned” Brig. Gen. DB Shaljaba (rtd) stated.
He continued “Over 35 settlements across the nation profiled to be hosting Gwoza IDPs, very little attention had been given by the state of the FG to the entire camps outside Maiduguri town. Despite the numerous NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, FBOs, and multinationals operating within the State, efforts made so far to assist affected people of Borno South have not been anything to write home about. All interventions so far end up in Maiduguri while the Borno South People live in squalor and trauma of the insurgency.”
The group however recognized the effort played by ICRC in Damboa, who evacuated about 53 persons for treatment to Gombe state for malnutrition related sicknesses after losing about 60 people due to the same complications of malnutrition.
While appreciating ICRC for its laudable intervention, it however called on similar organisations to partner and assist in mitigating such catastrophic humanitarian challenges.
It is this evident neglect of Boko Haram insurgency victims in Southern Born that the group seeks to address. It noted that majority of the people are trying to rebuild their lives with no assistance from any organisation, government or from concerned citizens in the Diaspora.
Stating insights as regards to the emergence of the group, General Shaljaba said “We therefore called for meetings where we deliberated amongst all the Southern Borno people present and came up with the idea to have an NGO registered and network of concerned citizens under this platform.
“This is to trigger the much needed advocacy for our region and our people to key into the post conflict rebuilding programmes and also benefit from the current humanitarian supports ongoing. We have so far recorded the following successes: Identified our critical political stakeholders to support and be part of the movement and to key into our demand and leave up their duty as political leaders from the zone. We have got approval and registered the Network for Sustainable Development and Empowerments in Borno South (NSDE Borno South) as an NGO.
“Committees have been formed to champion various areas of interest. We have also activated a media and advocacy to make our needs known and call for action from our members and solicit partnership with NGOs and development partners to assist our people. We have documented all the damages to lives and properties in the nine (9) local government areas that make up the region. Such Data is obtained to ease the process of the required intervention. Provision of humanitarian assistance outreach to few Local Government Areas based on what was available to assist, especially widows and aged ones in the zone,” the coordinator added.
Network for the Sustainable Development and Empowerment in Borno South consists of sons and daughters of Southern Borno consisting of the Nine (9) Local Government Areas that made up the Southern Borno Senatorial District (Askira/Uba, Bayo, Biu, Chibok, Damboa, Gwoza, Hawul, Kwaya Kusar and Shani).
