A high-level delegation of international partners and envoys visited Borno State for a one-day mission focused on strengthening cooperation, meeting conflict-affected communities, and discussing long-term, safe solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The delegation, which included the Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission in Abuja, Cynthia Rowe, along with the ambassadors of Denmark (Jens Hansen), Finland (Sanne Selin), Germany (Annett Günther), the Netherlands (Bengt Loosdrecht), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Representative to Nigeria (Arjun Jain), held talks with Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, and the Military Commanding Officer in Banki Garrison.
According to a statement from the British High Commission (BHC) in Abuja on Thursday, the visit was aimed at strengthening cooperation with the state government to achieve “safe and sustainable pathways for displaced people to rebuild their lives across the North-East.”
Discussions centered on ensuring that IDPs, refugee returnees, and host communities “are able to make free and informed choices about where to resettle.” Talks also examined how government agencies, security forces, and international partners can collaborate so that returns and resettlement “occur under conditions of safety, dignity, and support.”
During the mission, the delegation visited several project sites to speak directly with beneficiaries and observe interventions focused on recovery and resilience.
Stops included the El Miskin IDP camp and Musari community in Maiduguri, where delegates met with displaced women and families accessing education and livelihood support. A major stop was Banki, a garrison town in Bama Local Government Area that has been severely impacted by the insurgency, where delegates were shown various resilience projects supported by international partners.
Speaking during the visit, the Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission, Cynthia Rowe, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to the region. She stated: “The United Kingdom remains steadfast in its support for Nigeria’s efforts to build lasting peace and stability in the North-East.”
She highlighted the principles guiding the partnership: “Our partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to security, dignity, and opportunity for all communities affected by conflict and displacement. Through collaborative initiatives like those in Borno, we are helping to lay the foundations for recovery, resilience, and hope.”
The visit comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis across Nigeria. The BHC reported that 34 million people nationwide are at risk of acute food insecurity, with nearly six million in the North-East already facing crisis conditions.
The BHC further revealed that malnutrition rates have risen sharply, and that “more than 1,000 children under five at risk of dying every day over the next three months without urgent intervention.” Continued insecurity, climate-related shocks, and funding cuts have intensified displacement and forced critical aid services to scale back.
The UK is responding to the crisis by supporting partners, including the World Food Programme and UNICEF, through a £45 million humanitarian programme this year, which aims at providing food assistance, treating malnutrition, protecting civilians, and maintaining vital supply routes.
