Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum is to close down Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps on or before May, 2021.
According to State’s Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the state
government has 145 IDP camps in Maiduguri, Dikwa, Monguno, Rann and;
Pulka, Banki and Gwoza, three borders communities with Cameroon.
Zulum disclosed this Saturday, while unfolding 25-year recovery and
development plan at Government House, Maiduguri.
He called on the 192 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the
state, to key into the state’s reconstruction, rehabilitation and
resettlement (RRR) and recovery programmes.
“This quarter century plan, has a decade long strategic transformation
plan overcome 10-year Boko Haram insurgency,” he said, noting that the
policy to relocate and return IDPs to communities, was borne out of
return of relative peace and support of the President, Muhammadu
Buhari.
He said that all citizens and future generations; have access to basic
needs of life at every stage of their lives.
He commended efforts of military, security agencies and humanitarian
partners, including UNICEF, World Bank, WHO for restoration of peace
and humanitarian services to the people.
While lamenting decade long insurgency, he said: “South Korea has once
declared the second forest in the World due to its civil war.
“Because of the good vision and support from stakeholders, South Korea
came up victorious and now one of the global leading producers of
electronics products.
“We are therefore soliciting support from all and sundry to key into
our vision and mission to make Borno one of the best
investment-friendly to Nigerians and the international community.
“As a government, we cannot do this alone without the cooperation of
our humanitarian partners who have been there for us since the
beginning of conflict in July, 2009,” adding that NGOs should join
hands rebuild the insurgency ravage state.
The United Nations (UN) Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, Edward
Kallon, represented by UNICEF Chief Field Officer, Peter Hawkins
congratulated the state government for successful unfold of plan.
He pledged more support for the “rebuilding and resettlement” of
traumatized IDPs and the people of the state have better livelihoods.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami also
urged the state government to manage its competitive advantages,
especially its strategic location of sharing international borders
countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun very well
Minister of Finance, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, who was chief launcher of
development plan, through virtual means, represented by her Permanent
Secretary, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkaffi said the program is timely
considering the Federal Government’s Development Plan/initiative to
lift one million people out of poverty.
He assured Zulum that the federal government will collaborate and work
with synergy to ensure peace is fully restored with the rebuild and
resettlement of IDPs in the state.
