Houses - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

isaac aregbesola
Jan, Mon, 2025

Germany, UNDP inaugurate 1,900 IDPs resettlement houses in Borno

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By Hamza Suleiman

German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annet Günther and Nigeria’s UNDP Country Representative, Elsie Attafuah, have unveiled 1,900 resettlement houses and an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) centre in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the projects were undertaken by the international partners in conjunction with the Borno State Government.

The initiatives also underscore their collaborative efforts to rebuild and stabilise communities impacted by insurgency.

Speaking at the inauguration, Günther commended Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno for the initiatives, which she said would have a great impact on communities affected by insurgency.

“This housing project is a shining example of collaboration between the Borno State Government and international partners.

“Funding for the housing units comes from both the state government and international donors,” the envoy said.

Also speaking, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Country Representative, said the projects aligned with the UN agency’s regional stabilisation efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Lake Chad region.

”The facilities that we are commissioning today represents a model of collaboration among UNDP, Borno State Government and our development partners, particularly the Federal Government of Germany.

”We remain grateful for your strong partnership and financing which has ensured sustainable impact and resilience in Borno State and the Northeast region.

”I wish to specifically commend the Governor of Borno State for his sense of duty and commitment to the development and restoration of peace and stability to his state and people,” Attafuah said.

According to her, the state government has often reinforced RSF funding with state resources to accelerate development in conflict-affected communities of Borno State.

”I am pleased to state that of the 1,000 housing units that we are commissioning today, the state government and UNDP constructed 500 each.

”In addition, UNDP constructed 900 semi-permanent shelters and 375 solar-powered streetlights for improved community security, especially for women and children in night hours.

” Furthermore, the state government complimented with a modern vocational and skills acquisition centre to promote a holistic development and socio-economic welfare in the community,” the UNDP country representative said.

According to her, this initiative will help to uplift the dignity of the affected population, decongest IDP camps, as well as promote their safe and voluntary return.

She said that it would also create conducive environment for reintegration of repentant Boko Haram and associates, enhance socio-economic wellbeing of the host community and building community social cohesion and resilience.

Earlier, Zulum stated that “the housing estate consists of 1,000 Two-Bedroom Low-cost houses and 900 Semi-Permanent Shelters.’’

The governor said that the houses would be distributed to 1,874 households selected from 18 communities who had been living in IDP camps for years.

Zulum said that the German government funded the construction of 500 permanent housing units in 2020 and added 900 semi-permanent shelters in 2023.

According to him, the Borno government built another 500 houses and provided complementary amenities such as a health centre and solar-powered boreholes.

“A Letter of Agreement (LOA) was signed in 2020 under the RS German Initiative to kick-start the construction of 500 houses.

“In 2023, another LOA was signed under the RSF German reintegration funds, enabling the completion of the 500 housing units, 900 semi-permanent shelters, and the installation of 375 solar streetlights,” the governor said.

He added that the efforts would support the voluntary decongestion and eventual closure of IDP camps in Monguno, enabling smooth reintegration of displaced families in their ancestral homes.

Zulum commended the Governments of Germany, the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, Egypt, and the European Union for their continued support, as well as the UNDP for its unwavering partnership in stabilising the region.

Other dignitaries at the ceremony included the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Foud; Sen. Mohammed Monguno; the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, Esty Sotyoko; and Mathew Alao, UNDP Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security.

Traditional rulers, community leaders, and residents of Monguno also attended the event.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed

Ismail Abdulaziz
Nov, Mon, 2024

Judiciary

Houses for judges by Wike in order, says senior advocate

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By Taiye Agbaje

Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, on Monday, disagreed with critics of the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, over the construction of houses for judges in Abuja.

Daudu, the Coordinator of the Rule of Law Development Foundation, made this known at the opening of the 6th Annual Criminal Law Review Conference of the foundation in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 5-day event is titled: “Optimising the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria: How to Navigate Emerging and Systemic Challenges of Insecurity and Economic Hardship.”

He said the allegation that the renovation of courts and provision of houses for judges amounted to inducement was untrue and only to portray the judiciary in bad light.

The senior lawyer said the constitution allows the overlap of functions of the three arms of government; the executive, legislature and judiciary.

“Thus, in the normal democratic system of government, it is not unusual to see the executive exercise legislative powers by the making of executive orders or exercise judicial powers by making subsidiary legislation to authorise its agencies to impose fines on transgressors of the law.

“Also as stated above, it is not unusual to find the legislature authorised by the constitution to exercise judicial powers in the course of its oversight functions either by committing members of the public for contempt of the legislature or sitting and conducting hearings, inviting witnesses to testify before it as if it is a court of law.

“The judiciary on the other hand also exercises executive and at times legislative functions. Judges propound and make laws within the body of their judgments.

“They award contracts within their own domestic responsibilities. Many other numerous examples abound.

“One other vital point to note in this matter of the construction of houses for judges within the FCT is that it is not a personal bonanza of the Minister of the FCT but an appropriated project in the budget which received the assent of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Consequently, the way and manner, the said critics have been going about it is as if the minister of the FCT is constructing the buildings out of his personal purse and in his individual capacity is unfortunate.

“Once this distinction is recognised, it becomes clear that the hallowed office of a judge cannot be corrupted by merely giving to them their entitlement or accoutrement of their office,” he said.

According to the lawyer, historically, providing accommodation for judges and or judicial officers dates back from colonial times.

“We are privy to the knowledge and official records and documentation showing that judges have been provided housing by the executive arm of government since colonial times in the Government Reservation Areas of virtually all our urban centres/cities in Nigeria.

“This practise was stopped around 2007 when it became government policy to monetise housing and other perquisites of office under the guise that government will be saving more money when it pays rent for housing and buys vehicles for its staff across the three arms of government.

“The judiciary was the first to back out of this arrangement because it soon discovered that withdrawal of accommodation from judges especially newly appointed judges exposed them to danger of having to rent accommodation in anyhow areas of the town, which exposed them and their families to grave danger.

“Thus, now that this service is being reinstated by the executive which is the appropriate agency to carry out such works, some people are losing sight of the big picture and have reduced the matter to one of party politics, without considering the overall benefit of the provision of housing by the executive to the safety, independence and impartiality of the judges in question,” he said.

Daudu said it was time Nigerians knew that the three arms of government worked in tandem and in a coordinated manner.

“They do not work at cross purposes. Thus, the constitution expressly vests the function of submitting budgets, executing laws, planning for both the legislature and the judiciary on the executive arm of government.

“Moreover, judges are sworn on the Holy Books; the Bible and the Quran, to dispense justice without fear or favour or ill-will or malice to anyone.

“One will be thinking very low of our judicial officers if it is thought that their judicial oaths do not count for anything,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

edited by Sadiya Hamza