US to contribute $45.5m for Northeast rehabilitation

The United States Deputy Secretary of State, Mr John Sullivan, has said the US government would contribute an additional $45.5 million to rehabilitation efforts in the North-East.
Sullivan, who disclosed this at the Nigeria-US Bi-National Commission meeting, yesterday, in Abuja, said the support would help those who had been affected by violence in the northeast to rebuild their lives.

He said: “We are encouraged by Nigeria’s recent steps to establish a Northeast Development Commission which could enable many of those displaced by conflicts restart their lives. “I am proud to announce that the United States, through our colleagues at USAID, will contribute an additional $45.5 million to support stabilisation and early recovery efforts to help those who have been affected by violence in the northeast to rebuild their lives,” he said.

He, however, urged the government to sustain a comprehensive approach to restoring peace, security and development in the northeast. He called for enhanced cooperation among government, civil society and community leaders to create a doable, socio-economic and political infrastructure to support lasting peace and development.