SADIQ ABUBAKAR captures efforts of the Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima to beat the May 2016 deadline for resettling IDPs in communities and villages ravaged by Boko Haram insurgents.
With the declaration of May 2016 as deadline for the final return and resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across Borno state by the state government, Governor Kashim Shettima has assiduously embarked on massive reconstruction of the destroyed communities.
The building works include educational, health, social and agricultural facilities in most of the communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgents, particularly, towns and villages of those local government councils grossly ravaged by the insurgency in the northern and central parts of the state whose areas are said to have been liberated by the Nigerian Army and military commands have been erected and equipped to further strengthen security in the areas.
The effort by the governor has further been complimented by the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation as well as initial construction of mass of facilities ranging from housing, education, health, agriculture, skills acquisition scheme, social amenities and recreational facilities among others in Bama, Konduga, Mafa and Kaga local government councils of Borno state where over N2 billion so far have been invested while some of the projects or works have either been completed and awaiting commissioning or occupation, some are presently at completion stage of 70%-80% and others at 40%-50% construction stage, especially, the new central mosques built and completed, borehole drilled and overhead tanks provided, cement block moulding machines installed and new UBE primary schools being constructed at every town and village in addition to the rehabilitation of the existing ones destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents.
Reconstruction of communities destroyed in Borno by Boko Haram has commenced in five local governments, state Commissioner for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, Dr Babagana Umara said.
Umara told Journalists on Tuesday at Beneshiek Headquarters of Kaga Local Government during an assessment of the on going rehabilitation work by the governor, that a total of over 1 million blocks of 2 and 3 bedroom flats bungalow and semi detached housing units which some were ready to complete, particularly, the reconstruction works in Bama, the second largest city in the state seized by Boko Haram on September 1, 2014.
“Reconstruction has started at Bama, Konduga, Kaga, Gwoza and Mafa. We’ve captured the occupants of the houses destroyed by Boko Haram and each family will be given a house each,” he assured.
He said though the state government was yet to receive financial support from the Federal Government, the Minister of Information has assured of President Mohammadu Buhari’s commitment to rehabilitate destroyed communities in the northeast.
Governor Shettima had during the assessment tour promised that his government would construct all the communities. He told the people of Tamsu-Kauwa at Kaga Local Government that government would provide basic amenities including bore-hole. He said each of the family would be given agricultural facilities, adding that government would distribute animals and seedling free to each woman as a form of empowerment for poultry farming.
He said Boko Haram was over, urging the people to send their children to school. “Boko Haram is over, we will rebuild schools, don’t allow your children to join Boko Haram,” he told the people.
Borno state government BOSG is constructing about 500 housing units in Tamsu Kawu and Mai Takauri villages of Kaga local government council of Borno state.
Governor Shettima said that so far the state government had in the first phase of its reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement processes of destroyed communities by the Boko Haram insurgency invested over N570 million for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of structures ravaged by the insurgents including primary, secondary, UBE schools, local government secretariat, General hospital, staff quarters, housing estate, police station , court markets , mosques, road side shops and stalls or shopping complexes and drilling of borehole among others.
Speaking to journalists Tuesday in an interview on government efforts to return the IDPs to their host communities, he added that government has set aside substantial amount of money for the reconstruction and rehabilitation work of some liberated areas in kaga, Bama, Konduga, and few other places while the places still under the military control due to security challenges like Gwoza, Bank I, Gamboru Ngala, Damasak and few others will be in the third phases of the exercise.
According to him, so far over N1 billion has been expended on the rehabilitation and reconstruction works in Bama which is the largest and worst hit town in the state where virtually everything is leveled or destroyed.
He further appealed to the media to support the reconstruction and rehabilitation process to enable the IDPs resettlement and engage in proper occupation to boost food production in the state as government had acquired enough agricultural equipment for the rural farmers and traders to use for massive food production.
He however lamented that without security, the state government cannot achieve its plans as a lot of plans are underway to change the destroyed communities into modern towns and villages.
The governor added that in some towns and villages government had commenced construction of new educational facilities like primary and UBE Schools along with their staff quarters while the existing ones destroyed are under renovation.
Shettima noted that the state government plans to return the villagers back to their homes end of May 2016 while the construction works are expected to be completed by end of January 2016.
He explained further that with the present stage, some projects are at 80 per cent completion while others are at 70 percent.
Earlier the State Commissioners for reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement Dr Babagana Umara Zulum told journalists in an interview that about 170 2 and 3 bed room bungalow flats and semi detached housing estate are under construction in Tamsu Kawu village while about 300 similar housing estate is under construction in Mai Takauri village. ‘ll along benishiekh and damaturu road totaling about 400 housing units meant for the IDPs.
He said funds are generated locally and other sources to finance the projects which also include drilling of overlords and connection of national grid to the property among others.
Umara added that so far over N1 billion have been expended among other things on the reconstruction and rehabilitation works alone in Auno, Janaka, Benishiek, Tamsu Kawu, Mao Takauri and Ngamdu in phases while Bama alone also engulfed about N1 billion for 1000 housing estate and other stirred including borehole and electricity.
The director of reconstruction of the projects at site Alhaji Sulieman Ibrahim Uba said already work in most places have been completed and ready for use like FRSC office, GSS Benisheik and places like secretariat, court, police station, police barracks, General hospital among others are at 80 per cent completion with only fittings, tiles laying and doors and windows installations remaining.
He assured that the ministry will complete the projected scheduled by the end of January 2016.
