A high-level delegation of international partners visited Borno State to meet communities affected by conflict and discuss long-term solutions to displacement.
The delegation also held talks with Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, and the Military Commanding Officer in Banki Garrison during the one-day mission.
According to a statement from the British High Commission (BHC) in Abuja on Thursday, the visit focused on strengthening cooperation with the state government in order to achieve safe and sustainable pathways for displaced people to rebuild their lives across the North-East.
Delegates included the Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission in Abuja (Cynthia Rowe), 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).
The statement added that discussions centred on ensuring that internally displaced persons, 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 aimed at boosting recovery and resilience.
Among the locations toured were the El Miskin IDP camp and Musari community in Maiduguri, where delegates met displaced women and families accessing education and livelihood support, the statement added.
A major stop on the itinerary was Banki, a garrison town in Bama Local Government Area that has suffered severe impacts from the insurgency. Delegates were shown a series of resilience projects backed by international partners.
Speaking during the visit, the Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission, Cynthia Rowe, said, ‘The United Kingdom remains steadfast in its support for Nigeria’s efforts to build lasting peace and stability in the North-East.
‘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 deepening humanitarian crisis across Nigeria.
The BHC revealed that 34 million people nationwide are at risk of acute food insecurity, while nearly six million in the North-East are already facing crisis conditions.
It also added that malnutrition rates have risen sharply, with more than 1,000 children under five at risk of dying every day over the next three months without urgent intervention. Continued insecurity and climate-related shocks have further displaced communities, and funding cuts have forced critical aid services to scale back.
The UK is supporting partners, including the World Food Programme and UNICEF, through a £45m humanitarian programme this year, aimed at providing food assistance, treating malnutrition, protecting civilians, and maintaining vital supply routes.
