By Abubakar H. Muhammad (9News Nigeria Northeast)
Borno State has secured nine investment commitments worth hundreds of millions of naira at a two-day private sector roundtable in Lagos, in what officials described as a major boost to its Durable Solutions agenda for internally displaced persons and returnees.
The Borno State Durable Solutions to Internal Displacement Private Sector Roundtable, held on October 8 and 9, 2026, brought together more than 20 private sector actors from banking and finance, telecommunications, trade and commerce, impact investment, infrastructure, housing and philanthropy.
Representatives of United Nations agencies, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), also participated in the deliberations.
Six private sector companies signed Letters of Commitment on the first day, signalling their interest in investing in key sectors that support Borno’s durable solutions drive.
Three additional organisations signed on the second day, bringing the total number of commitments to nine.
Other participating organisations collected commitment forms for further internal consultations before signing.
The biggest outcome of the roundtable was the Dangote Group’s allocation of shares worth N366m for internally displaced persons and returnees.
The Dangote Foundation also pledged scholarships for 4,000 girls over the next six years.
Officials said the commitments will expand private sector participation in Borno’s recovery through investments that support livelihoods, access to services and economic inclusion of displacement-affected communities.
To facilitate immediate investment, two investors applied for and received land allocation approvals on the first day of the event.
Airtel also secured right-of-way approval to erect telecommunications towers across the state, a move expected to expand connectivity to returnee communities.
The Borno State Government assured investors that those who wish to build industries will get land within two weeks, while residential plots will be allocated within 24 hours.
Other ‘ease of doing business’ incentives announced include waivers, an investor-friendly environment, an industrial hub, an international dry port and access to international markets.
To translate the pledges into concrete projects, the investment pipeline will be organised by sector and aligned with the relevant pillars of the Borno State 25-Year Development Plan.
The state government, in partnership with GIZ and, where necessary, Dyna-vest, will establish an Investment Facilitation Support Group to follow up on the commitments and support projects in the pipeline.
The group will also institute quarterly progress monitoring and reporting to track implementation, identify challenges and facilitate timely action.
The roundtable ended with a renewed focus on sustained engagement to turn investment interest and pledges into practical opportunities for IDPs, returnees and host communities in Borno.
