Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has advocated proactive livelihood programmes to fast track resettlement of persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad region.

Mr Buni stated this during a panel of discussion at the ongoing 5th Lake Chad Governors’ Forum, on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

He said that a holistic approach was necessary to focus not only on the resettlement of the displaced persons, but provide them with the means to rebuild their lives.

“We must not simply return displaced persons to their communities, we must ensure that they have sustainable livelihoods to prevent them from returning to urban centers in search of better opportunities.

“Without jobs and economic prospects, even the most well-intentioned relocation efforts will fail,” he said.

According to Mr Buni, effective integration of the displaced population requires more than just relocation efforts, it must be accompanied by a robust economic and social support system, adding that without addressing livelihood challenges, communities risk a cycle of migration to the cities, to further strain urban infrastructure.

He said that some of the displaced persons who preferred to settle in urban centres were being exposed to life threatening conditions more than those in rural settlements.

The trend, he said, overstretched the existing infrastructure including housing, healthcare services, education, among others.

On poverty reduction, Mr Buni stressed the need for a pragmatic approach to address the social and economic needs of urban and rural dwellers, to mitigate the devastating impact of the conflict in the region.

While describing women as critical players in the stabilisation programme, Mr Buni said that effective social and economic empowerment programmes were key to achieving long-term peace and development.

“Keeping the mothers engaged is empowering the entire family, underlining the pivotal role women play in sustaining families and communities,” he said.

Mr Buni commended the partnership between the governors and traditional rulers towards ensuring security and job creation, adding that such a relationship was critical to overcoming regional challenges as well as promoting sustainable peace and development.

The Emir of Fika, Muhammed Idrissa pledged support to the revised regional stabilisation strategy for the Lake Chad Basin.

“The traditional institution is an integral part of government, and we are fully committed to the success of the new strategy for the Lake Chad Basin,” he said.

Mr Idrissa said that traditional rulers provided valuable input and advice to the government, and called for the establishment of a traditional rulers platform in the region.

“This platform will serve as a space for us to share findings and recommendations with the government, focussing on fostering peace and stability in the basin.

“Traditional rulers act as advisers, and are ready to support the government in advancing the strategy.

“We propose creating a platform where traditional rulers can collaborate across member states to exchange ideas and forward recommendations to the government,” he said.

Mr Idrissa also advocated for a pre-forum session to enable traditional rulers to meet and deliberate ahead of the main session, to enable them to articulate their contributions to the forum.

He noted that application of the ICT would cut the cost of logistics and reduce the financial burden on traditional leaders during their meetings.

The royal father said the shared cultural and religious values of the people should also be leveraged to promote peace in the region.

“The cultural activities should be used as a tool for reconciliation and community engagement. Traditional leaders hold significant respect in their communities, this could be instrumental in peace restoration.

“The traditional institution has the respect of local communities and we can work with parents to engage young people, particularly those involved in insurgency, and help rehabilitate them,” he said, adding that they should engage in the rehabilitation of the repentant insurgents.

Mr Idrissa further reiterated commitment to support the government, donor organisations, and development partners to restore peace to the region.

 (NAN)