By Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The Yobe State Government has secured renewed commitments from the European Union, the Governments of Switzerland, France and Germany, alongside key United Nations agencies and development partners, to deepen collaboration on governance-led durable solutions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), reinforcing the transition from humanitarian response to sustainable recovery, resilience and inclusive development.
The Acting Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mohammed Goje, disclosed this while receiving a high-level delegation led by Mr. Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, at the Governors Office, Damaturu.
The delegation included representatives of the Swiss Embassy, GIZ, AFD, UNHCR, IOM, UN-Habitat, Save the Children, Action Against Hunger, Care Nigeria/International and other development partners supporting recovery and resilience across Northeast Nigeria.
Dr. Goje restated the Yobe State Government’s commitment to placing good governance at the centre of all development interventions, noting that sustainable progress can only be achieved when government provides strategic leadership while development partners align their support with the State’s priorities.
He explained that Yobe has recorded significant progress in implementing its Durable Solutions State Action Plan (DS-SAP) through a bottom-up, community-driven approach, integrating durable solutions into state budgetary planning while ensuring partners align their interventions with the State Action Plan.
Acknowledging global funding constraints, Dr. Goje said the State would review the financing framework of the DS-SAP to address emerging priorities and bridge funding gaps as implementation progresses.
As part of the EU-funded SIDPIN Project, he announced that the Yobe State Government has allocated a 14-acre parcel of land in Damaturu for the construction of 100 housing units under the Urban Reintegration Programme, to be implemented through a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement.
He added that, in collaboration with UN-Habitat and other partners, the State is strengthening urban planning, secure land and housing, institutional capacity, and community participation to promote local integration, improve access to basic services, and expand livelihood opportunities for displaced persons, returnees, host communities and persons living with disabilities.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mr. Massimo De Luca emphasized on the European Union’s longstanding partnership with the Yobe State Government and commended the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni in promoting peace, stability and sustainable development in the Lake Chad Basin.
He stated that the joint mission by the European Union, France, Germany and Switzerland reflects their continued commitment to supporting Yobe’s transition from emergency humanitarian assistance to long-term recovery, inclusive development and sustainable local solutions.
Mr. De Luca noted that the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy seeks to mobilise long-term financing through public investment, private sector participation and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), while ensuring donor-supported investments remain fully aligned with Yobe State’s recovery and development priorities.
He also commended the collaborative efforts of the Yobe State Government, YOSEMA, the Durable Solutions Secretariat, Local Government Authorities, traditional institutions, community leaders and implementing partners in advancing coordinated interventions across durable solutions, livelihoods, economic recovery, basic services and natural resource management.
Highlighting the LASAWAMA Project being implemented with GIZ and AFD, Mr. De Luca said the initiative would strengthen water resources management and unlock strategic investments to improve access to water for displaced populations while supporting sustainable urban integration.
GIZ described Yobe as a global model for government-led durable solutions, applauding the State’s strong leadership, coordination and ownership of the recovery agenda, while encouraging other SIDPIN implementing states to learn from Yobe’s experience.
