The United Nations has expressed serious concern over the persistent insecurity in the North-West, and the resultant effect of malnutrition among children in the region.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr Matthias Schmale, told some newsmen in Maiduguri, Tuesday, December 14, that the region took the larger chunk of the 20 million out-of-school children in the country.
The North-West comprises the seven states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa.
The Humanitarian Coordinator did not mention the percentage of the North-West children suffering malnutrition.
He pointed out that without sound education and health care services, there would not be any meaningful development.
“Indeed, the North-West is of major concern to us due to insecurity,” Schmale said.
He said the UN was planning to scale up support for state governments in the North-West for development works and to address insecurity, acute malnutrition of children and the problem of out-of-school children.
“There will no development unless people have quality education and health services,” he observed, announcing, “These form the focus of the United Nations in the North-West.”
Schmale expressed delight over the support the UN agencies rendered to the Borno State government towards the closure of Internally Displaced Persons’ camps and the resettlement of returnees in their ancestral communities.
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