By Joseph Edegbo
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum on Sunday led key stakeholders on humanitarian visit to Gwoza local government area, with assessment of reconstruction works in Kirawa, ahead of resettling conflict displaced citizens in the border community.
Zulum was accompanied by personalities from Gwoza who included Senator Muhammad Ali Ndume, the member of House of Representatives, representing Gwoza, Damboa and Chibok federal constituency, Ahmed Usman Jaha, the member, representing Gwoza at the state Assembly, Abdullahi Buba Abatcha, and former Chairman of Gwoza LGA, Abdullahi Dan Jato.
Residents of Kirawa were forced by Boko Haram attacks to flee to border areas in neighboring Cameroon, in the wake of destruction of their homes and public facilities.
Governor Zulum in response, had set up a committee head by the state’s commissioner for housing and energy, Engr Saleh Vungas who hails from Gwoza, charged with resettling displaced citizens in Kirawa and Ngoshe towns both in Gwoza.
Zulum undertook different visits to both towns, supervising reconstruction works and distribution of humanitarian aid.
In his last visit (on Sunday) the Governor assessed homes and basic public services being rebuilt, assuring the restoration of water sources, healthcare facilities, schools and livelihoods.
… Sets three weeks deadline
After assessing works, Governor Zulum addressed citizens displaced by insurgent attacks, during which he disclosed that the government was making efforts to fast track reconstruction works that will enable commencement of resettlement within the next three weeks.
The Governor announced that male returnees will be supported with cash amount of N50,000 each along with food and non-food items, while their wives will receive N10,000 each and wrappers.
Zulum assured families whose houses have not been rebuilt, will be supported with N100,000 each and other forms of support, to enable them rebuild their homes.
The Governor enjoined the people to cooperate with the military by giving them maximum support by reporting suspicious persons and movements
…. Visits multinational JTF
While in Gwoza LGA, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum paid a morale boosting visit to the Multi-National Joint Taskforce made up of soldiers from the Nigerian and the Cameroonian military at their base in Kirawa. The MNJTF is involved with peace-building efforts in Kirawa and other areas.
Zulum commended the forces and assured of continued support, and he conveyed to them, the goodwill of a presidential committee on repatriation and resettlement of IDPs and Refugees being chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with him as Vice chairman.
The Governor also commended local volunteers combining youths under the “civilian joint task force, hunters and vigilantes for their patriotic and unquantifiable support to the military. He urged them to remain cooperative with the MNJTF, and assured them of sustained provision of logistics.
The MNJTF’s commander showed Governor 517 bicycles and a number of motorcycles siezed from insurgents, which were deployed by the MNJTF for transportation of food and non food items between Sambisa forest and Mandara Mountains.
