SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
Borno State Government said it has plan to build 4,000 housing units across the state for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and civil servants as well as rebuild four villages to the standard of urban centers with modern facilities and amenities, as part of development activities of the present administration.
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara ZulumGovernor Babagama Umara Zulum disclosed this on Tuesday in Auno village in an interview with Journalists during inspection of the capital projects of Auno 500 proposed housing units under construction by the Borno State’s Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR).
According to Zulum,” the essence of the construction of the 4000 houses across the state is to return the IDPs back to their ancestral homes and give them livelihood support to enable them continue their normal life in their Communities”
“We intend to develop 4 Villages that will become towns or cities where all the basic infrastructures and facilities will be provided for the citizens. This will also encourage and boost socio Economic activities in the areas like Monguno, Gamboru Ngala, Damboa and Benishiekh
“We will provide these towns with roads and drainages, shops and markets, motor parks, houses, schools, hospitals, boreholes and all the basic necessities of life to enable them live a better life in the post Insurgency era”, Zulum said.
Zulum also said that his administration is embarking on this massive hosting estates projects in order to decongest the state capital and create opportunities for those four areas to developed as well as resettle the IDPs and give them livelihoods support to continue their life.
He however directed the 500 housing Committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadaffur which work had commenced 6 months ago to Hasten Completion if the work to enable the state government commission the houses and allocated them to civil servants, especially, the staff of the Fertilizers, Plastic, Tomatoes & Pepper, Soda & Ash industries located at NJimtilo outskirts of Maiduguri.
Earlier, the governor was conducted round the housing and road projects that were ongoing in Ngamdu and Benishiekh villages where at Ngamdu, the Hon. Commissioner of RRR, Engineer Mustapha Gubio told the governor that the 500 housing units started 27 days ago and the buildings are all at the roofing stage and fencing had commenced in some of the buildings.
However, the commissioner said due to lack of land availability for the 500 housing units, only 300 housing units are presently under construction in Ngamdu pending the acquisition of more land for the remaining 200 housing units as proposed.
According to him, cement block works have been completed on the 300 houses and work is at roofing stage and by next month the construction will be ready for occupation including facilities.
During his interaction with the locals at Ngamdu housing project site , Governor Zulum pledged to immediately repair electricity of the villages which has been vandalized by the Boko Haram Insurgents for over six years, renovate their schools and hospital and clinic as well as market and motor park.
The governor also told the Lawan who is the District Head of Ngamdu that his administration is making concerted efforts to resettle all the IDPs from the area but would like to first start the resettlement process with the flood disaster victims on refuge in Ngamdu and its environs before those displaced by the Insurgents.
While at Benishiekh village, Governor Zulum inspected the township roads under construction where he directed for the construction of drainages along all the township roads being constructed, noting that, “the roads are at low level and there is the likelihood that wash water or flood could wash the roads easily away or bury them”.
He instructed that the level should either be higher than what it is now or drainages be constructed along the roads for easy flow of rainfall and flood.
Also, Zulum was also at Auno 500 housing units under construction where he directed that efforts should be made towards completion of the houses and government intends to allocate the houses to more IDPs and workers.
He however commended the Ministry of RRR for its commitment and dedication towards meeting up with the requirements of the people needs and government desire to relocate the IDPs and decongest the state capital, Maiduguri.
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