The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has assessed the quality of Yobe State’s post-Boko Haram insurgency reconstruction, rehabilitation, and recovery projects.
Mohamed Yahya, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, expressed admiration for the state’s reconstruction and recovery efforts, particularly in the fields of health and education.
Yahya visited Damaturu on Tuesday to tour the newly reconstructed 375-bed Maternity and Child Healthcare Complex, which was part of the initiatives undertaken by the administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni.
“The two pillars of Governor Buni’s development agenda, investing in health and education are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals Programme.
“The investment in the health sector is pretty impressive and Yobe state is back on the path of development after the devastation by the insurgency,” the UNDP representative said.
Yahya expressed satisfaction with the rate at which the state is catching up with the Sustainable Development Goals.
“I am quite impressed with the potential of the facilities dealing with maternal and childcare challenges,” Yahya said.
Earlier, Buni said his administration embarked on a massive reconstruction of the facilities to speed up the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and recovery programme, following the destructions by the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said the reconstruction of the facilities had enhanced the resettlement of the displaced communities.
“It is gratifying that as of today, all the displaced communities in the state, except the Mallundunari community in Gujba local government area, have returned and resettled.
“This was facilitated by the reconstruction of infrastructure including the Local Government Secretariats, Police Stations, Hospitals, Schools, Water facilities, markets and other public structures carried out by the state government and supported by some development partners,” Buni said.
He appreciated the Federal Government and the development partners for supporting the recovery programme of the state government and called for more support to resettle the Mallundunari community, which is the only community that is yet to be resettled after its displacement by the insurgents.
