UN Joint Mission visits Nigeria, evaluates humanitarian crises 

A United Nations joint mission is visiting Nigeria to assess efforts being made to address the peace and security issues in Northeast Nigeria as well as humanitarian services to provide succour for victims of the violent uprising.

Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and Sahel, leader of the delegation, during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, in Abuja on Thursday said that the purpose of the mission is in Nigeria to evaluate the crisis situation ravaging the Lake Chad Basin area.

According to Annadif: “We are a joint mission mandated by the UN Security Council to conduct a joint mission in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. Last week we were in Cameroon and Chad and now we are in Nigeria. We are here to underscore the United Nations support and solidarity with these four countries.

“We are interested in looking at the situation of displaced persons and the refugees in these four countries. On Friday, we will travel to Maiduguri to assess the situation there.”

The delegation praised the ministry for its role in issues of displacement and refugees.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, representing the Minister, promised to grant the delegation access to make their findings on the humanitarian issues in the country.

Alkali stated that the Ministry has developed and institutionalized Civil-Security Cooperation strategic framework and roadmap for humanitarian intervention in the North East, in particular, as well as the whole country.

The Permanent Secretary highlighted: “CiSEC structure is a platform that brings key stakeholders together to deliberate on ways and means to foster understanding amongst humanitarian and security actors, to ensure more effective and seamless delivery of humanitarian aid to the affected communities.

“It is believed that a well-coordinated humanitarian response and durable solution in the country will create an enabling environment for sub-regional cooperation especially in the Lake Chad region in addressing humanitarian challenges. We are glad that you have re-affirmed your strong commitment to support Nigeria and other countries in the Lake Chad region on this journey.”

The Permanent Secretary pledged to partner with the UN Mission to achieve durable solutions to the protracted challenges in the Lake Chad region.

In the same vein, the Special Adviser to the President on Humanitarian Affairs, Group Captain Shehu Sadiq, also said  acknowledged the ongoing mission by United Nations,  other Humanitarian agencies as well as the National Humanitarian Coordination Committee created to ensure access to humanitarian actors.

“Efforts are ongoing to ensure that as much as we are following the International principles of voluntary return, that we work out solutions for the IDPs to return to their normal lives,” Shehu Sadiq said.

The UN Mission Delegation include  Mahamat Saleh Annadif , Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and Sahel, Francis Louncery Fall, Special Representative of United Nations Secretary-General for Central Africa, Ambassador Mamman Nuhu, Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and

Ms. Claudia Emmanuella Del Ke, Special Representative of the European Union for the Sahel.