The Borno State government has barred non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from providing food and non-edible items to persons who just left Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and have been resettled in their various communities.
The decision was made known in a letter signed by Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno State, and addressed to humanitarian organisations and development partners.
According to the state government, it made the decision in order to help the resettled persons to be self-reliant rather than solely depending on provided items, thereby not catering to themselves.
The letter read: “The Borno State government wishes to acknowledge and thank you for all your support to the people and government of the state and in particular your support for people displaced internally by insurgency.
“As you are aware, the Borno State government is deeply committed to supporting our people to build resilience and support themselves out of poverty.
“To this end, government has committed to closing all official IDP camps in Maiduguri by December 2021.
“One of the cardinal principles of our resilience-building effort is to wean people off humanitarian food distribution.
“Another principle is to dignify the people and empower them to buy their own food and determine their future.
“In furtherance of this, the Borno State government, after consultation with our communities, have decided that no partner organisation shall henceforth be allowed to distribute food and non-food items in any of our resettled communities.
“This applies to local, national, and international partners. Food distribution will only be allowed in IDP camps and IDPs in host communities for now.”
Governor Zulum also said development partners will need clearance from the government to ensure coordination and check duplication in all new areas they wish to distribute food and non-food items.
The Borno government has closed four IDP camps in Maiduguri, the state capital, and resettled displaced persons in their ancestral communities or in areas of their choice.
