Maiduguri, Sept. 18, 2025 (NAN) An NGO, Africa Network Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has advocated for harmonised social protection law in Borno.
Mr Leo Atakpu, the Deputy Executive Director of the organisation made the call during a state dialogue on social protection on Thursday in Maiduguri.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dialogue was being organised by ANEEJ on project ACT NAIJA-Civil Society Action to strengthen social protection in Nigeria in collaboration with the state’s Women Affairs Ministry.
Atakpu who stressed the need for a harmonised law for a more targeted social protection services Borno, urged for cooperation of stakeholders to make it a reality.
According to him, a National Bureau of Statistics report reveals that over the past two decades, Borno has suffered growing security, capacity and legitimacy gaps.
He said the development was demonstrated in the declining capacity of institutions in Borno to deliver public goods, including security, transportation, water, medical care, power and education.
“Since 2009, 2.1 million people have been displaced in Borno State due to threats from insurgents, with hundreds of thousands seeking refuge in Maiduguri and in the various designated camps surrounding the city.
“The city of Maiduguri has borne the largest burden of support to those displaced by the conflict, housing over 800,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) at the peak of the crisis, with more than 88 per cent residing outside of camps.
“According to a 2016 UNOCHA statement, greater Maiduguri saw its population increase from one million to two million with the influx of people displaced from other areas of the state.
“An estimated 10 to 50 per cent of IDPs were projected to stay in the city. As of November 2020, approximately 300,000 IDPs still reside in Maiduguri.”
He said the influx exacerbated vulnerabilities that existed in the city, making social protection dialogue a critical role in reducing poverty, managing inequality, and enhancing the resilience of vulnerable populations.
Atakpu said that the social protection policy launched by the state in September 2023 was yet to translate into a law-making coordination of social protection activities and programmes.
“We want a coordinated approach to tackling poverty in the state. That is why we have invited government, experts and other critical stakeholders to address various aspects of social protection issues.”
Speaking, Ali Abdullahi, the Director-General, Borno State Emergency Management Agency expressed the agency’s appreciation to the European Union for its support through the Act Naija programmes.
Abdullahi, who was represented by Hajiya Yagana Abadam, reaffirmed SEMA’s commitment to working closely with government agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, and the private sector to enhance social protection efforts in the state.
“We recognise the importance of a coordinated approach in addressing the complex challenges facing our communities, and we look forward to engaging in fruitful discussions that will inform our collective efforts.
“This dialogue provides a valuable platform for multi-stakeholder collaboration, policy review, and progress tracking.
“It is an opportunity for us to share lessons, identify best practices, and chart pathways to build inclusive and resilient social protection systems in Borno State,” he said.
Declaring the dialogue open, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, called on partners and stakeholders to work together for the development of a well articulated policy that will advance the social protection systems in the state and bring all actions together into a single, unified system.
Gambo, who was represented by Hajiya Halima Chiroma, the Director Administration in the ministry, said the state government’s efforts to protect its most vulnerable were well-intentioned but scattered.
“Different programmes run by various groups often overlap, work towards different goals, and are applied unevenly across the country.
“This creates a confusing patchwork where help doesn’t always reach those who need it most, wasting precious resources and leaving critical gaps in our safety net.
“Bringing these actions together into a single, unified system is both the right thing to do and a smart investment in our nation’s future.
The three-year project is co-funded by the European Union under its Human Rights and Support to civil society in Nigeria. (NAN)
