Abuja – The United Nation is to assist Nigeria Government clear the debris and mines left behind by years of Boko Haram activities in the North East to pave way for rebuilding of the zone.
Dr Pa-Lamin Beyai, Country Director, UN Development Programme (UNDP), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the organisation is carrying out the exercise to assist in early rebuilding of the area.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
He said before the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) return to the communities liberated from Boko Haram, measures should be put in place to make the environment safe and conducive for them to return.
“We think that if people must go back to their places of original abode, they need to build their houses especially houses that have been destroyed.
“This programme is what we call “Debris Management” and our intention is to pay the same people or those who own the houses to clear the debris.
“Alternatively, we will mobilise the youth within those areas to clear those debris for the people to reconstruct their houses,” he said.
He regretted the heap of solid waste in Borno, especially Maiduguri, the state capital, saying that “the solid waste situation is very bad”.
Beyai said those youths who had been confined to the insurgency environment and not doing anything on daily basis, would be positively engaged to clear those solid wastes.
“One, it helps with their health. Two, it keeps them busy instead of thinking of something unhealthy.
“Three, it will give them the required income may be to buy their own scratch card or food on daily basis.
“This cannot be forever but it is a time-limited engagement which will be paid for if we could mobilise the required funding to keep these people busy,” he said.
Speaking on the mines, the UN official said that explosions had been used by the insurgents.
He said the UN got information about the use of mine in the insurgency adding, it is no secret that mines have been used in this insurgency.
“Now, if you want to get people back to their places of original abode, they have to be educated as to how to identify mines.
“They may not necessarily be mine-disposal experts but they should be able to know through sensitisation if they see an ordinance that is like to blow, maim or even kill them.”
“So that people returning will be able to identify ordinances as at when they see mines and report to appropriate authorities,’’ he added.
He however said that although the UNDP was not strictly a humanitarian agency, it could participate in some of such programmes.
According to him, the organisation is focused on early recovery, and can create a buffer zone between humanitarian and long-term development. (NAN)