Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state; has engaged 12,735 Civilian
JTF and hunters to establish civil authorities in 23 Local Government
Areas.
The council areas; were affected in decade long Boko Haram insurgency
with displacement of 1.86 million people and loss of many lives and
property.
While announcing establishment of civil authorities on Saturday in
Maiduguri, the Commissioner of Local Government and Emirate Affairs,
Sugun Mai Mele at an inter-ministerial briefings disclosed: “These
measures were aimed at providing complementary services to the
security operatives and subsequently build confidence of displaced
persons and refugees return to their communities.”
According to him, the state government has procured working tools,
patrol vehicles and payments of monthly allowances to members of
Civilian JTF and hunters.
His words: “The regular payments of allowances; was to enhance an
effective and efficient securing of 23 councils with established civil
authorities.
“His Excellency, Governor Zulum had granted approvals for the
deliveries of fuel and other logistics to the security operatives in
the state.
“It’s to complement efforts of Federal Government in addition to the
ones provided ensure protection of people’s lives and property across
the state.”
On roles of police secure councils, he said: “Our Governor has sought
the engagement of Mobile Police Force with the deployment and
operational centres in Magumeri, Konduga, Damboa and Nganzai
councils.”
He explained that all the security efforts are geared towards
providing adequate security for the establishment of civil
authorities.
He noted that with current security challenges in Marte, Kukawa,
Abadam and Guzamala Local Government Areas, their staff and other
council officials are to operate from Monguno and Gajiram towns.
While sustaining civil authorities, he said: “The Governor approved
the release of 80% counterpart funding to State Primary Education
Board for the councils’ infrastructural facilities for 2019 and this
year.”
He said the Ministry, in the last one year, has rehabilitated and
constructed educational infrastructures in 23 councils for return of
civil authority.
He said that to restore livelihoods of internally displaced person
(IDP) returnees, 134 tractors will be distributed to the Local
Government Areas.
According to him, to boost the agricultural sector, 3,000 metric tons
of fertilizers were procured for distribution to farmers.
Other measures adopted for establishment of civil authorities, were
the renovations of Shehus of Bama and Dikwa palaces at the cost of N29
million each.
