The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to collaborate with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for development of rural communities in the North Eastern region of the country. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo who was represented by the Director of Humanitarian affairs in the Ministry, Alhaji Grema, stated that to recover the North East Region, it is extremely important that rural communities and local governments are developed.
At a sensitization workshop on Community building through collaboration with local government in the North East region under the organization of the North East Development Commission in collaboration with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the secretary noted that the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as well as the North East Development Commission (NEDC) is majorly to enforce unbiased focused policies. These policies must be prudent and humane, leaving no one behind in Humanitarian, Development and Peace.
There should be a trusting relationship between the gov’t and communities.
Nigeria’s States and Local Governments are implored to cooperate with the efforts of the federal government and the ministry by enabling the HDP triple nexus – Humanitarian, Development and Peace. Keying into the HDP triple nexus would foster trust between governments at all levels, even at the grassroot level. The Permanent Secretary also suggested involvement of NGOs, INGOs, local partners and other foreign partners to assist the government in a swift reconstruction of the North East region.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is regarded as a significant international partner with commendable impacts in aspects of community engagement and development, including other sectors. In 2022, recovery and development in Japan through the trusting relationships between government and communities was experienced by staff of the Ministry, NEDC and states. Mohammed Alkali, the Managing Director of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), thanked JICA for sponsorship of the study tour of Japan which happened in October, 2022.
Commission would learn additional disaster recovery efforts from JICA.
Represented by the Head of Research and Planning in the Commission, Professor Bobboi Umar, Alkali acknowledged inclusiveness of local communities in recovery and development planning governance as the major lesson gathered from the study tour for reduction of trust deficit that exists between government and the people. During the study tour, Japan’s experience of recovery and reconstruction in Hiroshima (World War II) and Iwaki (Great East Japan Earthquake) was shared. The country also revealed its present efforts to build trust between government and community and the issues and challenges associated with them.
NEDC’s Managing Director added that the presence of 112 Local Government Chairmen through the 6 ALGON Chairmen and 6 Permanent Secretaries of Ministries of Local Government from North East States is significantly necessary for sensitization on the need for communities as stakeholders in development and governance just like Japan. Also, there would be another workshop for Community Development Officers in the 112 LGAs on their designated responsibilities as bridges between the government and communities. NEDC aims at learning some forms of disaster recovery from JICA regardless of the difference.
More recovery and conflict resolution needed in the NE region.
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) are collaborating with the mandate of JICA for assistance in supporting Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe – the remaining three states that are yet to experience development partners’ interventions unlike Adamawa, Borno and Yobe – as well as health and education sectors. JICA Programme Officer on Nutrition, Agriculture, and Peace Building in Nigeria, Dr. Umar Halilu, responded that the North East region has been battling insurgency and conflicts for many years and requires interventions in recovery and conflict resolution. There must be an involvement of the community in the decision-making and planning process to build trust.
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Nigeria-Japan set to recover the North East – Development of rural communities and LGs is necessary for recovery & dev. – Express your point of view.
I’m happy we are entering bilaterally relationship with Japan, so as to find lasting solutions to this insecurity affecting us.
Government officials in Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja and the Japan International Cooperation Agency have agreed to work together to improve rural areas in the country’s northeast.
It is of the utmost importance that rural communities and local governments be created in order to facilitate the recovery of the North East Region.
During a workshop on community building in the North East region through collaboration with local government, which was organized by the North East Development Commission, participants were made aware of several issues.
The federal government of Nigeria and the ministry are pleading with the states and local governments of Nigeria to assist in their efforts by making it possible for the HDP triple nexus to function.
participation of non-governmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, local partners, and other international partners in order to support the government in the expeditious reconstruction of the North East region.
an important international partner that has made laudable contributions in the areas of community engagement and development
In order to foster trust, there must be participation on the part of the community in the processes of decision-making and planning.
This bilateral collaboration should in one way or the other benefit Nigeria greatly. All measure should be taken to revamp the country.
Nigeria-Japan set to recover the North East. We need action not talking only, we need to do more development in this country
This is a nice relationship to make with Japan to improve and developed our rural area north east region this will benefit us well we should put effort in it
The North East Region’s rehabilitation will be greatly aided by the establishment of rural communities and local administrations.
The nation also discussed its ongoing efforts to increase community and government trust as well as the problems and obstacles they face.
To aid in the recovery of the North East Region, it is crucial that rural communities and local governments be established.
Recovering the North East of the Nigeria is very important being the place ravaged by terrorism and violence. The Nigeria-Japan bilateral relationship will resolve a lot of things.
The north eastern part of the country called Nigeria has be devastated by the activities of terrorist. The bilateral relationship established between Nigeria-Japan will set to recover the North East and help in the planning and development of the rural communities and the Lags.
In order to find long-term answers to the security issues that affect us, I’m glad that we are beginning a bilateral relationship with Japan.
Nigeria stands to gain substantially from this bilateral cooperation. Whatever it takes to get the country back on its feet is what needs to be done.
The people of the North East of the country are seriously lack behind in term of every human development and this is so because of the insurgency and lack of proper Wester education and these collaboration between Nigeria and Japan hover will go along in boosting the education system across the region
The proposed is a good plan but there must be an involvement of the community in the decisions making and planning process to build trust.