Governor Buni Engages World Bank Country Team on Strengthening Disaster Risk Management, SOLID Project Implementation
Governor Buni Engages World Bank Country Team on Strengthening Disaster Risk Management, SOLID Project Implementation
…World Bank Commends Governor Buni’s bold, solution-driven leadership.
The Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. (Dr.) Mai Mala Buni, CON, led a high-powered delegation to the World Bank Country Office in Abuja on Thursday October 2 2025, to advance discussions on the take-off of the Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities (SOLID) Project.
In his remarks, Governor Buni expressed profound appreciation to the World Bank for its sustained support to Nigeria and to Yobe State through transformative investments in infrastructure, livelihoods, and social development.
He highlighted Yobe’s alignment with national development priorities, citing the state’s urban renewal projects, the Damaturu Green Economic City, expanded water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs, and massive agricultural interventions as examples of solution-focused initiatives.
“Yobe today stands out as the most prepared Tier-1 state for the SOLID Project. With 167,350 internally displaced persons and intense peri-urban growth pressures around Damaturu, the project comes at a critical time. It offers us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to turn displacement into resilience and recovery,” the Governor said.
He reaffirmed Yobe State’s fulfillment of all commitment criteria, including the development of a participatory State Action Plan on Durable Solutions, domestication of the National IDP Policy, establishment of the State Policy Advisory Committee on Durable Solutions, and the operationalization of a State SOLID Project Coordination Unit
Governor Buni also emphasized his administration’s financial commitments for institutional setup, and 12% of the 2025 state budget earmarked for solution-focused development. In his response, the World Bank Country Director, Dr. Mathew Verghis, commended Governor Buni for his visionary leadership and proactive efforts in preparing Yobe for SOLID implementation.
Governor Buni further pledged to rally the support of his fellow governors to ensure collective ownership of the SOLID initiative. With this engagement, Yobe once again positions itself at the forefront of Nigeria’s durable solutions agenda, under the bold and solution-driven leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni.
In his response, the World Bank Country Director, Dr. Mathew Verghis, commended Governor Buni for his visionary leadership and proactive efforts in preparing Yobe for SOLID implementation.
He described Yobe as a model of political will and readiness, assuring the Bank’s partnership in strengthening disaster risk management, supporting climate resilience, and accelerating investments that will directly impact displaced persons and host communities.
“Your Excellency, we recognize Yobe’s unique challenges but also its leadership in advancing durable solutions. The Bank stands ready to work with your government to ensure SOLID delivers tangible, lasting results,” Dr. Verghis stated.
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The engagement ended with a renewed commitment from both sides to work closely with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to fast-track the signing of the Subsidiary Agreement and project credit effectiveness.
Governor Buni was accompanied by Distinguished Senator Musa Mustapha, Senator representing Yobe Central, the Chief of Staff, Yobe State Government House Alhaji Abdullahi Yusuf Gashua, Chairman Potiskum local government, Hon. Salisu Mukhtari, the Permanent Secretary Liaison, Sani Mohammed Ismail, Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Liman Ibrahim and the SOLID Project Coordinator, Suleiman Dauda.
On the World Bank side, the meeting was led by the Country Director, Dr. Mathew Verghis, alongside the SOLID Project Task Team Leader (TTL), Mr Francis Samson Nkoka, the Co-TTL, Christopher Mays Johnson, and Bank team of technical specialists.
