By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has called on the Federal Government to intervene in the ongoing communities reconstruction and rehabilitation of basic infrastructures and livelihood support with a view to return normal life to the people at the border towns destroyed by the insurgency 12 years ago.
Gov. Zulum also called on the National Boundary Commission to develop measures of tackling border conflicts and ensuring developments across the country.
The governor made the call during an interactive session of critical stakeholders and field consultants on border communities held at the multipurpose hall of the Government House Maiduguri.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Alh Umar Usman Kadafur, the governor said the state government would do all it can to develop the border communities and resettle the internal displaced persons from the areas of refuge within and outside the country.
Governor Zulum, further, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the commission for their support and efforts respectively to Borno state and its people as well the military for securing the border communities.
On his part, The Chairman Borno State Boundary Committee who is also the Deputy Governor, Borno State, Hon. Umar Usman Kadafur, said the three day dialogue was convened for critical stakeholders from border communities in 10 Local Government Areas of the state to identify and assess their needs.
He commended the National Border Commission for organizing the interactive session and its efforts in developing the border communities .
The Director General, National Boundary commission, Surveyor Adamu Adaji, said the three day dialogue of critical stakeholders was organized by the National Boundary Commission in collaboration with the Borno State Boundary Committee for critical stakeholders/field border communities in the state to extensively discuss and identify needs of the communities with a view to address them as a mandate of the commission
He said “the Borno state has suffered a lot devastation as a result of Boko Haram insurgency and the border communities were the worse hit, hence, the need for concerted efforts to reconstruct and develop the communities.”
The Representative of the 10 border LGAs, who is the Chairman of Gwoza council, Prof Ibrahim Bulama urged the Federal Government to strengthen the security at the borders by restricting the movement of foreign nationals, adding that the borders are porous which made it easier for the movement of arms and ammunitions, hard drugs and other unwanted goods
Prof Bulama said the priority needs of border communities in Borno state are the provision of security, reconstruction of destroyed houses, hospitals, schools potable water electricity, roads among others
While the Representative of the Borno traditional rulers, Alhaji Lawan Mauna Mahmud, who is also a member of Borno Emirate Council called on the Federal Government to come to the aid of Borno State Government to develop the destroyed border communities.
He also appealed to the NBC to ensure that the victims are supported with skills acquisition and vocational training as well as livelihood support to enable them return and continue with their normal life, while thanking Governor Zulum for his support and efforts in reconstructing some towns and villages.
He further called on the Borno State House of Assembly members and LGCs Chairmen of the affected LGAs to liaise and involve the village and district heads as well as chiefs in the rebuilding and livelihood support processes.
The participants at the interactive session were drawn from the 10 LGAs which include – Bama, Monguno, Mobbar, Kukawa, Abadam, Guzamala, Marte, Ngala, Kalabalge and Gwoza local government areas of the state.
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