Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state has celebrated Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary, 13 years after Boko Haram insurgency that claimed many lives and property.
The last anniversary was held on October 1, 2008 with parades and fanfares by security agencies, civil servants and students from various institutions.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Usman Kadafur, Zulum said, “Regrettably this auspicious occasion could not be held in the state for quite some time.”
He attributed the non-mark of independence anniversary to peculiar security challenges bedeviling the state for over dozen years.
According to him, today’s celebration is indicative that peace is gradually returning to the state and the country at large.
He noted that the gradual peace into the various communities was facilitated by the military and other security agencies.
Besides, he added that troops’ gallantry, gingered the State government to close all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Area.
According to him, voluntary resettlement of many communities across the state were also closed down to enable IDP returnees go back to the liberated communities
He added that President Muhammadu Buhari has shown commitments to the indivisibility of the nation’s citizens’ access to freedom and basic needs of life.
Continued; “We’re confronting the challenges of providing critical infrastructural facilities destroyed in the 13-year insurgency in the state.
“This administration is to explore means of creating more job opportunities for the youths and women in the liberated communities.”
He noted that, as more jobs are created, the upsurge in social vices could decline in most of the affected communities
He said the three-year massive investments could also expand and strengthen the resettlement and recovery efforts to provide the dividends of democracy.
The dividends, according to him, are access to education, healthcare delivery services,
Security, potable water among others.
He, therefore, enjoined the people to remain calm, live peacefully and shun all tendencies capable of plunging the nation into chaos and anarchy.
He warned that as the 2023 general elections approaches, the people should imbibe the spirit of patriotism and peaceful coexistence.
