North East Stability At Risk As UN Ocha Plans Exit, OPHK Raises Alarm
By Passman Akpos
The outgoing Head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) in Nigeria, Mr. Trond Jensen, has been applauded by the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, for his outstanding leadership, resilience and unwavering cooperation in supporting humanitarian initiatives across the region.
The commendation came on Thursday, 4 December 2025, when Mr. Jensen paid a farewell visit to the Headquarters Theatre Command in Maiduguri, marking the end of his impactful tenure.
In his remarks, Major General Abubakar described Mr. Jensen as “a dependable ally” whose strategic guidance and collaboration were instrumental to the shared vision of restoring stability and reviving socio-economic activities in the North East. He noted that the bond of trust between OPHK and UN OCHA resulted in major gains, particularly in non-kinetic operations aimed at supporting vulnerable communities.
The Theatre Commander expressed concern over UN OCHA’s planned reduction of operations in Nigeria by 2028, warning that such a drawdown could severely affect malnutrition responses, vaccination drives, and critical humanitarian interventions. He emphasized the need for proactive steps to prevent humanitarian setbacks while assuring that OPHK would continue to provide the enabling environment for UN OCHA and its personnel.
Maj.-Gen. Abubakar further stated that the joint activities of OPHK and Agro Rangers would remain effective in countering terrorism, particularly during peak harvest periods when insurgents are known to threaten farming communities.
In his response, Mr. Jensen lauded OPHK for its strong cooperation and security support in the high-risk operating environment of the North East. He explained that UN OCHA’s transition and downsizing by 2028 would not stem from improved conditions but from dwindling global funding. He therefore urged Nigeria to enhance the use of domestic resources to cushion the anticipated humanitarian gaps.
Mr. Jensen was accompanied by Mr. Emmanuel Oluwadunsun Ojo, Humanitarian Affairs Officer and Civil-Military Coordinator, OCHA Nigeria.
Present at the visit were the Deputy Theatre Commander, Air Vice Marshal Essen Efanga, Component Commanders, and Principal Staff Officers of OPHK.
The farewell activities featured the signing of the visitors’ book, exchange of souvenirs, and group photographs.
SANI UBALieutenant ColonelMedia Information OfficerJoint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI4 December 2025
