Governor Zulum addressing newsmen in Wulgo border town of Borno State
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has disbursed over N225 million to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and residents of Gamboru, Ngala and Wulgo host community and border towns of Ngala LGA in the northern part of the state .
He also distributed wrappers to over 70, 000 women along with N5000 cash to each of the benefiting women to cushion their hardships while pledging to distribute foodstuffs to the men (husbands) before end of the month to alleviate their sufferings.
Zulum added that these are part of his agenda on food security following inability of the rural farmers to cultivate their farmlands to feed themselves due to invasion of elephants into their farmlands that destroy their plants and threats from Boko Haram terrorists.
Zulum stated this in Wulgo border town on Sunday while speaking to Journalists on the difficulties and challenges the returnee IDPs and host communities are currently facing.
He said: “As a government we can not fold our arms and watch our citizens suffer in this condition. As such, we have to be here in Gamboru Ngala to support and assist in the possible way and manner we can to ensure their safety, and livelihood with the emerging peace in the state”.
“We are also mindful of the situation. We have to be visiting them to comfort and assist them with food and non food materials to cushion their hardships and sufferings which is a great challenge we are facing. And thank God the federal government is also supporting us to ensure that their living condition improves.
“We also thank the military and Vigilante CJTF and hunters for their sacrifices and efforts in seeing that security is provided to to lives and property of the citizens while in our part we will do every possible to ensure their safety and livelihood improves”, Zulum said.
Zulum also noted that the state has been experienced flood disaster in various communities which has destroyed many farmlands and crops despite the destruction of farm crops by the invading elephants in these LGAs.
Speaking on how to revive the commercial activities of the towns bordering Cameroon and Chad Republic, the governor said the state government has provided Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) for the police and vehicles for the military, police, NSCDC, CJTF and vigilante hunters groups among others.
He added that efforts would be made to provide adequate security in all roads as well as loans and cash supports to the traders.
He added that food and non food items as well as farm implements and seedlings will continue to be provided to the IDPs and host communities to engage properly and effectively in farming and fishing which are their major occupations in these LGAs of the state.
“We shall not relent in doing that as a government and responsibility in our side which Insha Allah we shall ensure it is done with the support of the security agencies who are doing well in providing us with security, protecting our lives and property,”
“The military and other security agencies have provided an enabling environment and government will continue to provide adequate security for the protection of lives and property of our citizens,” Zulum said.
