The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Nicolas Lang, has praised Governor Buni’s action plan on durable solutions, stating that it has become a model for global replication. According to Lang, the UN Assistant Secretary-General, Robert Piper, has recognized Yobe State’s initiative as a benchmark for addressing internal displacement, showcasing the state’s commitment to finding lasting solutions for its citizens.
Mr Lang stated this on Thursday during a cocktail and partnership meeting hosted by the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Nicolas Lang, in honour of the governor.
The meeting, which had over 25 ambassadors, high commissioners, and development partners in attendance, was held in Abuja.
The ambassador quoted the UN top official as hailing Yobe model because it is the first true government ownership throughout the development process, with background support from UNDP, the World Bank and other external actors.
He said the other reason why Yobe seems to stand out as a model is for the meaningful engagement of all strata of society in developing the plan, including representatives from internally displaced people and the communities hosting them.
“Meaningful citizen participation in decisions that affect their lives is a cornerstone of Switzerland’s democracy so I was particularly pleased to hear this and encourage the Yobe State Government to continue towards this path during the implementation of the plan,” he said.
In his remark, Mr Buni has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to implementing the state action plan on durable solutions.
Mr Buni said the recent launch of the Action Plan underscores his administration’s commitment to creating a future of hope and resilience for the citizens particularly the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.
According to him, his administration has in the past five years embarked on a transformative journey, driven by the aspirations “of our citizens and a commitment to transparent and accountable governance.”
He added that the state recognises the critical need to address the challenges of protracted displacement from a blend of both humanitarian and development perspectives.
“This is what informed our recent work with UN agencies and the World Bank for the development of a state action plan on a solution to internal displacement.
“The Action Plan, together with other relevant policies and institutional frameworks in the state, will create a lasting solution that not only meet immediate needs but also support the short, medium and long-term socio-economic recovery and development of the state.
“To this end, as I said during the launching of the plan, Yobe State Government pledged to allocate 5% of its state budget annually for the next three years [2025–2027] towards creating sustainable conditions that facilitate a comprehensive transition to development through voluntary, safe, and dignified return, local integration, or relocation of IDPs and host communities.
“Our focus is on reviving local economies by investing in key priority areas to support human capital development, especially in the core sectors of health, education, agriculture, and entrepreneurial activities, enabling families to rebuild their livelihoods and achieve self-sufficiency. We also intend to support our recovering communities and promote social cohesion, reconciliation, and community engagement to heal the wounds of conflict and foster unity.”
While reflecting on his achievements, Mr Buni said his administration has recorded significant strides in infrastructure, health, and resettlement for victims of insurgent attacks and other sectors.
He said the administration is building 508 kilometres of roads and drainage systems, with 120 kilometres completed.
“Our mass housing policy has led to the construction of 2,350 houses across all 17 local government areas.
“In response to the insurgency’s impact, we declared a state of emergency in education, built new schools, recruited over 4,000 teaching staff, and trained 26,000 teachers. Our school feeding programme and integration of Tsangaya schools have significantly increased enrollment,” he said.
In the areas of healthcare delivery, he said, “We constructed/rehabilitated 140 primary healthcare centres into functional status out of 178 targeted, and procured 88 customised tricycle ambulances for remote areas.
“The Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency now covers over 300,000 residents, increasing access to affordable healthcare, and immunisation coverage improved from 16% to 65%.”
