Edward Kallon ends tenure as Nigeria’s UN Humanitarian Coordinator, says Northeast humanitarian crisis gulped over $3 billion in 5 years
Having served for five years as UN Head of Humanitarian affairs in Nigeria Edward Kallon takes a bow as he heads to Zimbabwe
The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon has on Tuesday night revealed that the Boko Haram conflict in northeast Nigeria has taken more than $3 billion of donor funds in the last five years.
Mr Kallon, who was adjudged as the most popular UN top envoy that has ever worked in the African largest economy started his duty as a humanitarian coordinator at the Nigerian office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) in 2016.
The Humanitarian Times published a report in which Mr Kallon had earlier, this year, hinted that his tenure would end this year.
Sources close to the UN system have disclosed that the veteran humanitarian from Sierra Leone would be heading to Zimbabwe for his next UN assignment.
Speaking at first of its kind dinner hosted on his behalf by the Borno state government and the INGO forum, in Maiduguri, Kallon said he was satisfied that he has been able to accomplish some of his assignments since he came five years ago. He said he has also made good friends.
He disclosed that the crisis in northeast Nigeria especially Borno state has led to the spending of over $3 billion mainly on providing lifesaving supports to many of the persons affected by the conflict.
He however expressed optimism that the Boko Haram war will soon come to an end because his eyes of experience have foreseen that “there is light at the end of the tunnel”.
Mr Kallon also gave five-point advice for the Nigerian government on how to avert the conflict that birthed the Boko Haram crisis listing, fighting and corruption and promotion of social cohesion against exclusion, among other things government must do at all times.
He commended government and people of Borno state in their recent resolve to take ownership of the community resilience building and some of the programmes initiated by the International nongovernmental.
High points of dinner which was lit with entertainment and sumptuous meals was the goodwill messages delivered in honor of the exiting humanitarian.
Deputy Governor of Borno state, Usman Kadafur, said Kallon did not only brought massive help to Borno, but ended up making brothers and friends in the state.
Yabawa Kolo, the Executive Director of Borno SEMA, who delivered an emotional speech eulogised Kallon as a kind-hearted and extraordinary fellow who had touched the lives of people.
The Humanitarian Times would be publishing more reports in serials detailing the valedictory of Edward Kallon as he delivered the same at the thanksgiving and farewell dinner.
