The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has yesterday said that N7 billion has been invested in several humanitarian and housing projects for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno state and Northeast. The humanitarian interventions and assistance include provision of food and non-food items, healthcare, jobs and housing units for IDPs. Dangote disclosed this on Monday in Maiduguri, while commissioning 200 housing units, primary school and a clinic at Dangote village for widows and orphans. He also commissioned the Borno State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA) along Damboa road, Maiduguri. He the humanitarian intervention in collaboration with Borno state government was to end hunger in Boko Haram affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. According to him, the nine-year insurgency and herdsmen attacks have displaced two million IDPs to live in camps for over three years. He said in Borno state alone, the Foundation has invested N2 billion for building of 200 three-bedroom houses to displaced persons. He added that the provision of food and non-food items were carried out since 2012, when most of IDPs are in camps of Maiduguri, Bama, Dikwa, Monguno, and Gwoza, a border town with Cameroon. The 200 houses and PHCDA were jointly built, furnished and equipped by Dangote Foundation and Borno state government. Dangote commended Governor Kashim Shettima for overcoming the challenges of Boko Haram insurgency with infrastructural facility projects and housing across the state. “You have achieved a great feat that other governors from oil producing states could not attain for their people,” he said. He called on philanthropists and other corporate organizations to assist the state government resettle and empower the IDPs in their liberated communities. “We will continue to work and ensure that the IDPs are finally resettled and empowered in their communities with dignity,” he further pledged. Governor Shettima described Dangote as symbol of Borno and a highest gift to Africa by overcoming the challenges posed by insurgency. He said the Foundation, is the one in the country that gave the highest donation in support of humanitarian crisis in Borno and entire country. “I am impressed with this humanitarian support of building 200 three-bedroom housing units for our widows and orphans, who lost their husbands and parents during Boko Haram insurgency,” he said, noting that; “Dangote will now serve as permanent symbol in this state.” Shettima said. The Commissioners for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Professor Umara and that of Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, and the Executive Director, BSPHCDA, Dr. Sule Mele also commended Dangote and state government for giving topmost priority to plights of IDPs. They noted that the provision of houses, clinics, schools and a befitting Primary Health Care Development Agency to the people was timely. “Relative peace has returned to Borno; and its people are enjoying it with all these humanitarian interventions and assistance for Dangote Foundation,” declared the commissioners.
