UN: Nigeria Lost $10bn to Northeast Conflict
A United Nations study has revealed that Nigeria lost an estimated $10 billion due to the decade-long conflict in the Northeast. The disclosure was made by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) during the launch of a reintegration program in Maiduguri. The agency stated that the insurgency not only shrank the national economy but also crippled the income and earning potential of families and young people in the region. To address this, UNICEF has launched a program to support over 1,000 children affected by the conflict. The initiative provides vocational training in skills like tailoring, ICT, and carpentry, alongside psychosocial support. The program aims to restore "hope, dignity, and opportunity" to adolescents, helping them build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the recovery and resilience of their communities.