German Ambassador to Nigeria, Birgitt Ory, together with UN Resident Coordinator Matthias Schmale and UNDP Resident Representative Mohammed Yahya, visited Borno State on March 9 and 10 2022, where she met with local government leaders, UN agencies and humanitarian organizations.
Ambassador Ory also visited Ngarannam town in Mafa LGA. Destroyed by insurgents and uninhabited since 2015, the community has been rebuilt through a stabilization program co- funded by the German government. Reconstruction work took into account the building style of the Kanuri culture and special climate and topographic circumstances.
German Ambassador Ory during her two-day visit to Borno State: “Our stabilization- program in Nigeria since 2019 has shown that with strong government ownership and a committed partner like UNDP-Nigeria, it is possible to create perspectives and hope for the Nigerian people in the Northeast. The program already transformed the lives of thousands of Nigerians in Banki. Now, around 3.000 displaced people will return to Ngarannam to rebuild their livelihoods. Our commitment to rebuilding communities and contributing to sustainable peace remains stronger than ever.”
The German government has supported reconstruction in Ngarannam through the “Regional Stabilization Facility”. This program is supported by Germany, being the largest contributor, since 2019, together with other European partners, as well as Nigerian government institutions on all levels. It aims to restore essential infrastructure and provide livelihood opportunities in communities previously affected by violent conflict in the Lake Chad region.
To that effect, the program works closely with communities and government partners. In Nigeria, since 2019 the program supports nine government-selected communities across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States and is implemented by UNDP.
Recently, Germany has made available an additional 15 Mio. EUR to UNDP to assist in the reintegration of former Boko Haram associates who surrendered. Together with Germany’s contribution to the Regional Stabilization Facility across the Lake Chad Region, Germany’s overall contribution now amounts to 75 Mio. USD since 2019.
