By Our Correspondent
Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima, yesterday temporarily relocated his office to Bama town, an urban centre, severely destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents.
Insurgents had attacked the town killing dozens, destroying more than 80 per cent of houses in the town and also sacked the Emir and took over his palace after declaring it a sovereign territory with set of laws and ‘constitutional’ leader.
The military, however, toppled the insurgents and recovered the area by the end of 2015, months after President Muhammadu Buhari took over affairs.
To fast track major reconstruction works which was flagged-off yesterday, Shettima now lives in Bama town with his close aides.
“My office is now here. I decided to relocate here to supervise reconstruction works. I will administer Borno state from here. I am fully prepared to be here for days to come, one week, two weeks or even more. I will not leave until we are able to rebuild a good number of private houses, municipal buildings, markets, schools and clinics.
“I want the reconstruction work to take proper shape before I leave. Bama is one of the worst affected areas and we will move from here to other parts of the state”, he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Dr. Babagana Umara Zulum, announced that the reconstruction activities has created nearly 1000 direct jobs beside stimulating the economy of the state through procurements of different building materials and payment for services.
The Commissioner said with the support his ministry received from the governor, his men were fully ready to make him proud.