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By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
Borno State Government has commenced construction of 1000 Housing Units to serve as resettlement city for about 89,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) taking refuge in Monguno Local Government Area of the state.
It will also construct a befitting Higher Science and Islamic schools that will accommodate science students and staff from the various Government Science Secondary Schools hitherto destroyed within the crachment area.
This was disclosed yesterday by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum when he led other top government delegations and party faithfuls for a 3-Day working visit to Monguno town.
Recalled that IDPs from Kukawa, Abadam, Marte, Dikwa and hosts of other Local Government Areas of Northern Borno Senatorial District are currently taking refuge in the ancient town of Monguno.
At the Foundation Stone-Laying ceremony in Monguno town, Zulum assured that his government is doing everything possible to make IDPs dignified in the society, despite their predicament.
His words: “We are in Monguno again to give succour to our IDPs virtually drawn from Northern Borno Senatorial District.
“During my inaugural speech on 29th May 2019, I have pledged to give much priority for the restoration of peace and resettlement of our traumatized IDPs. And so, we are here today not only to distribute relief items, but also commenced Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Ressetlement of our IDPs”. Zulum said.
He however enjoined them and the good people of the state to give their maximum support to the government and the security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram, as he stressed that security of lives and property is not the responsibility of the government and security agencies alone, but collective one.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, (RRR), Engineer Mustapha Gubio said “the Housing Units are to be build purposely to relocate the 89,000 IDPs presently occupying schools and other government premises in Monguno town, while the new school is to provide quality education to children of the IDPs”.
According to Gubio, the construction of the new Housing Units will cost the State Government over N5 billion, which is expected to be completed within six months, while the new school project will cost N75 million.
He informed that the Housing Units will comprised of schools, hospital, boreholes, police and fire service stations.
Other facilities to be provided includes market, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and vigilante/hunters office, sports and recreational centeres, roads and drainages, among other social amenities.
The State Commissioner of Education, Hon. Bello Ayuba said the Islamic School when completed will fast track and expand Arabic and Islamic knowledge, as Islamic studies in the area have great preference and priority.
The new school project he added, will have all the necessary modern facilities such as computer science required of a standard Islamic School along with adequate and trained teaching and administrative staff