By Cecilia Ologunagba
The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Amina Mohammed, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigerian-led solutions to development and humanitarian challenges.
UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said Mohammed had returned from Nigeria, where she visited Zamfara and Benue states and met communities affected by insecurity and displacement.
He said she witnessed firsthand the scale of humanitarian needs as well as ongoing response efforts by authorities and partners.
Meanwhile, the UN says digital tools are transforming Nigeria’s response to humanitarian challenges, including tracking internally displaced persons, despite funding constraints and technology gaps.
The development was highlighted at the ongoing 59th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD59) at UN Headquarters in New York.
Nigeria, which has about two million displaced persons due to prolonged insurgency in the northeast, has adopted the Displacement Tracking Matrix developed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to improve data and response efforts.
The UN noted that the tool supports decision-making in more than 90 countries, underscoring the growing role of technology in development planning.
However, it warned of challenges such as digital inequality, data privacy risks, and misinformation, particularly affecting vulnerable populations.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also raised concerns over declining global funding for development programmes, warning that current levels are inadequate to meet sustainable development goals.
He called for stronger and more predictable financing, especially for vulnerable countries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission examines the impact of population trends on sustainable development. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
(Eited by Emmanuel Yashim)
