The United Nation (UN) has suggested dialogue as part of the measures aimed at ending the protracted Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast of Nigeria.
The UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, who made the suggestion when he answered reporters’ questions after an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja today, August 24, stressed that the typologies of the different insecurity challenges in the country make them difficult to resolve.
He said that government needed to complement the use of military force with a robust dialogue mechanism in crises areas.
Edward highlighted the need for dialogue in addition to a political process to complement the military efforts in the new national security strategy, assuring that UN will tap into its deep reservoir of expertise, both in human and material resources to put at the disposal of Nigeria.
“We have multi-faceted security problems with each problem requiring a unique set of innovative solutions from identity-based conflict to resource-based conflict and power-based conflict. One size will not fit all.
“From our global experience, there are no humanitarian solutions to humanitarian problems. The only solution to the conflict in northeast Nigeria is peace and we must prioritize prevention, development where feasible and humanitarian assistance when needed to find lasting and durable solutions.
“The affected people especially the 1.2 million IDPs and over 293,000 refugees in Niger, Chad and Cameroon must be supported in every way possible to improve IDP sites and shelter, basic
services, protection and decongestion and dignified voluntary return to places they will have access to basic services and security.
“There is an urgent need to look at the issue of outstanding Tripartite Agreements with the Nigerian-Refugee Hosting countries and develop a National Framework to guide action on IDPs at state level in line with protocols agreed at the Kampala Convention.”
