Borno Governor, Northeast Nigeria, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum on Monday visited New Marte, a former stronghold of Boko Haram on the shores of the Lake Chad, to explore how major irrigation farming activities of the Chad Basin Development Authority (CBDA) could be restored by July, this year.
This is just as the Governor ordered the rebuilding of 500 houses and schools.
In December 2019, Zulum was in New Marte and it was the first civilian’s visit to the ’no-go-area’ in more than five years, since insurgents attacked the Agro community forcing residents to flee, while the CBDA was shutdown. Federal government’s activities in an area, said to have more 67,000 hectares of fertile land for large scale irrigation. New Marte is located in Marte local government area in northern Borno and the entire LGA had come under the control of insurgents, until the Nigeria military recaptured it and has now given go ahead for civilian reoccupation.
Governor Zulum, in company of CBDA’s Managing Director, Engineer Abba Bukar, Borno’s Commissioner of reconstruction, reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement, Commissioner for higher education, who hails from Marte and that of local governments and emirates affairs flew from Maiduguri onboard a military helicopter.
During the unscheduled visit, Zulum assessed varieties of vandalized irrigation equipment, a power house, workshop and dozens of buildings used by the CBDA in active days of engaging thousands of families.
“I am here with the MD of CBDA, Engr. Abba Bukar in New Marte, insha’Allah we will partner with them to resuscitate Marte’s irrigation centre. This will provide means of livelihood.”the Governor said before flying back to Maiduguri.
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum has directed the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Re-settlement during the visit, to commence reconstruction of 500 houses, which served as staff quarters for technicians and other staff of the Chad Basin Development Authority, CBDA. The ministry is to also rebuild schools and other public facilities.
Zulum, said in a request to the CBDA, that when rebuilt, the 500 houses will provide temporary shelters to displaced persons willing to return to New Marte, even though their communities in different parts of larger Marte local government area, will also be rebuilt for their permanent occupation.
“Insha’Allah, we will rehabilitate the CBDA quarters, comprising of 500 housing units, the returning IDPs will be resettled there, pending the completion of work in permanent resettlements” the Governor noted.
He added that, Government will support returnees with economic packages, which will enable households to directly build their destroyed homes, while operating temporarily from CBDA’s quarters.
