The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq has said that; 10,000 houses are being built to bridge the housing deficits in Borno state. According to her, the deficits were caused by decade long Boko Haram insurgency that claimed over 36, 000 lives with loss of $9.2 billion (N4.412 trillion) worth of property. While inspecting ongoing 1,000 housing units project at Ngwon Friday, she disclosed: “The N20 billion housing projects, was the commitments and determination of President Muhammadu Buhari return Borno state internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps to their respective communities.” The Managing Director of North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mohammed Alkali also told Sadiya that insurgents destroyed 60% of housing stock in insurgency affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. “The housing deficit caused by terrorists’ activities in the President to commence building 100 houses at Ngwom village, along Maiduguri/Dikwa road,” he said noting that 300 houses are to be completed in three months. He explained that the commission’s target to bridge housing deficits in Borno; was to decongest and close 24 IDP camps in Maiduguri, Dikwa, Monguno, Gwoza, Damboa, Pulka and Banki, two border communities with Cameroon. Governor Babagana Zulum further disclosed that the ongoing 1,000 housing unit project, are spread across central and north senatorial districts affected by decade long Boko Haram insurgency. “We shall collaborate with Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in the completion of 10,000 houses for our displaced persons,” he said, noting that this will reduce the sufferings of IDPs in camps and host communities. He therefore, urged the managing director of commission to continue to invest in housing and education sectors, infrastructural facilities for roads and water supply to returning IDPs. While announcing closure of camps, Zulum said: “To close 24 official IDP camps in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere on or before May 31, 2021; the N20 billion housing projects in Northeast be completed,” stating that all the infrastructural and health facilities that were destroyed, are functional for complete return of 1.5 million IDPs.
