By Rakiya A.Muhammad
Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Nicholas Lang, has disclosed his country’s plans for a nutrition, water and sanitation project in Sokoto State.
Lang, who disclosed this when he paid a courtesy call to Sokoto Governor State Ahmed Aliyu, said they funded the project and partnered with Action Against Hunger, an NGO, that would implement it.
The Ambassador, represented by the Press Secretary for Humanitarian and Development Cooperation, Nicholas Martins, described the initiative as the first Switzerland project in Sokoto.
He, however, pointed out that Switzerland had been implementing humanitarian projects in close collaboration with the Nigerian government since 2014.
The envoy explained that their focus had been on Northeast Nigeria, responding to the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said they recognise the humanitarian needs in the Northwest of the country, arising from the raging banditry crisis and would implement the one-year project in Bodinga and Tambuwal Local Government areas of Sokoto.
The Swizz envoy acknowledged Governor Aliyu’s commitment towards collaborating with his country to address the humanitarian issues.
Sokoto State Governor expressed appreciation to the Ambassador for the visit, stressing his administration’s willingness to collaborate with Switzerland in the overall interest of the state.
Governor Aliyu solicited Switzerland’s support for Sokoto State in education, health and humanitarian interventions, noting concerns such as out-of-school children and internal displacement.
“These groups need your serious support in line with the intervention you are giving to our country, Nigeria,” he stated.
“My administration is always ready to collaborate with any country or body working towards improving our people’s lives.
