The Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) has begun the construction of 500 houses for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Yobe state. The 12-year Boko Haram terrorism has killed over 36,000 people with destroyed property worth $9.2 billion (N3.42 trillion) in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. While laying the foundation stone at the weekend in Damaturu, the state capial; the NEDC Managing Director, Mohammed Alkali disclosed: “The IDPs’ housing project was initiated in line with the core mandate of the Commission to address developmental challenges in the Northeast region.” He noted that by overcoming the challenges, it could restore the livelihoods of victims of insurgency in Gujba and Gulani Councils. Alkali said that due to the massive influx of IDPs into the urban areas, most of them had to take refuge at any available public spaces, homes and uncompleted buildings and some camps in the state. He added that because of the challenges of shelter, the Commission activated its core mandate to rehabilitee and reconstruct destroyed homes and commercial centres of people in the insurgency region.
According to him; “The stock of houses in the Northeast states before the insurgency was about four million. “Of these houses, over 500,000 structures, including houses and commercial premises were however; destroyed or irreparably damaged.” He also lamented that there was a housing deficit in all the states of the region, thereby aggravating the problems of shetering the IDPs In said that in Yobe state the Commission has received an express approval of the state government on allocation of plots of land in Damaturu. He further disclosed that 50 houses each will be built in Buni/Yadi, Geidam, Potiskum, Gashua and Nguru towns.
He added that as part of the housing package, schools would be rebuilt or rehabilitated to address high deficits of classroom blocks in both Primary and Secondary Schools in insurgency affected states. “We’ve resolved to construct three composite mega schools or upgrade existing ones in each state of the region, thus making 18, one in each of the Senatorial District,” he said. While speaking on rehabilitation of roads, he said that the roads that link Mutai and Ngalda communities will be completed next year. While responding, Governor Buni said that the 500-housing units project for insurgency affect communities Yobe was a commendable. According to him, NEDC has confirmed the development pursuit in the state with positive impacts on peoples’ living conditions. He therefore called on contractors handling NEDC projects in the state to ensure standards and quality delivery.
