Norway donates $4 million to IDPs in Borno

THE Norwegian Government yesterday donated the sum of $4 million to the Borno State government as assistance in the “rehabilitation and resettlement” of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) sacked by Boko Haram from their various communities in 20 local councils of the state.

Presenting the cheque at the Government House, Maiduguri, the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Rolf Ree, said the international community will continue to assist Borno State government in resettling displaced persons currently living at Bakassi camp and others in the metropolis.
His words: “The Norwegian government has been very much concerned about the plight and increasing number of displaced persons at various camps in the metropolis.

“My official visit to Maiduguri was to interact with IDPs, who are mainly children and women, hear what the children say about their displacement from conventional schools and homes and see how they could be assisted to return to their respective communities.”

He said the financial assistance, will also complement Borno State government’s efforts in rebuilding destroyed communities, before the displaced persons could return to their homes.

Responding, Governor Kashim Shettima commended Norway for being a leader in supporting the state government and its affected citizens, since the Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed many lives and property.

“For the past seven years, the Norwegian government has been assisting Borno State government in ‘cash and kind’ by building housing units at the Bakassi camp on Damboa Road.”

He assured the ambassador that the Boko Haram insurgency will soon end and become a thing of the past.

“In the next few weeks or months all the destroyed communities in 20 councils will be rebuilt and rehabilitated for some of the displaced persons to return and continue with their normal lives,” he assured.

He also announced that the Day Secondary Schools in Maiduguri metropolis will be reopened next week Monday, November 23, 2015, while boarding schools in the state will gradually resume for academic activities.