Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima has given an unprecedented directive that all “non-performing” United Nations agencies, including renowned UNICEF to leave the state for their inability to justify the funds they claim to be expending on persons displaced by Boko Haram insurgency.
According to reports from TV360 Nigeria, the Governor also called out 126 other nongovernmental organisations operating in the state.
According to the governor, “Some of the United Nations agencies are doing their best in their own way of doing things; but to me I am not satisfied.
Governor accused most of the NGOs of using funds released to them for servicing only their overheads and personnel costs.
“The huge chunk of what they are budgeting for Borno goes to service their overheads. I, as a governor don’t ride in bullet proof cars; but they spend more than $50, 000 buying bullet proof cars for themselves.”
“They will construct five toilets in Gwoza and fly in helicopters more than seven times to inspect the toilets.
“We are in the post-conflict phase of insurgency era where we are concentrating on recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation. But the foreign NGOs have near fixation on the IDP camps.”
The governor accused them of lining their pockets in the name of providing service to victims of Boko Haram in his state.
In the past, the Borno State Governor said it has so far received cash donations of N345 million for the upkeep of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
He explained that the Federal Government during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan donated N200 million in four years.
According to governor Shettima, of the 126 NGOs that have mobilised to the state, only about eight were actually providing humanitarian services to the displaced persons.
He specifically critical of United Nation agencies for bashing when he said they were in the habit of using large portion of the money meant for providing for IDPs to fund their logistic needs.
The governor said the UN system would announce millions of dollars as intervention for victims of Boko Haram, but more than half of what was released would end up being used for recurrent spending of the humanitarian agencies.
Shettima said he was fed-up hearing the UN’s rhetoric and had decided to take tackle his problems on his own.
Governor Shettima, however commended some NGOs for work in the state.
“The World Food Programme is doing a very good job,” he said.
“The ICRC is doing a very good job. We also appreciate the efforts of the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Danish Refugee council. The International Organisation for Migration is doing a good job. The UNHCR is also doing a good job.
“Apart from these eight NGOs, the rest of them are merely existing. I have a list of 126 NGOs in Borno state.
“We have become a cash cow; and people are smiling their ways to the banks from the agony of our people. This is unacceptable.”
In a related development, Nigerian leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, has also accused local and international humanitarian agencies of exaggerating the humanitarian crisis in North-east Nigeria.
The Presidency stated that it is handling the situation with great sensitivity and has put measures in place to cushion the humanitarian challenges with collaboration between NEMA and the Presidential Committee on Northeast Initiative.
