Zulum commits N3.8tr to housing project for IDP returnees

Group hails gov for quality leadership
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has targeted the construction of 85,000 houses worth N3.8 trillion to resettle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into 66 liberated communities in the state.

According to him, the housing project will have schools, clinics, police outposts and secure markets.

This was as the North East Ambassadors Group commended the governor for his commitment towards improving the lives of Borno people.

Zulum unveiled the IDPs resettlement scheme, yesterday, while receiving the United Nations (UN) delegation of the North East Ambassadors’ Group at the Government House, Maiduguri.

The UN delegation comprised high commissioners, ambassadors and other representatives of development and humanitarian partners.

He said: “The state government will commit 15 per cent of its yearly budget to the solution pathways of resettling over 1.2 million IDPs into the liberated communities.”

Zulum told the delegation that Maiduguri metropolis would be contiguously expanded along the six major entry roads.

Development of the six entry-corridors, he explained, was to accommodate IDP returnees, who prefer to be integrated into the Maiduguri city.

Alternatively, he said that the returnees could be relocated to any place they wish.

“The option of resettlement was to respect their choices with dignity, and in accordance with the Kampala Convention.

“Implementing the durable solutions pathway for IDPs will significantly reduce the recruitment of unemployed youths by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP),” he added.

The governor expressed gratitude to the development partners for supporting the regional stabilisation facility, which has impacted the lives of the people affected by insurgency in the Lake Chad region.

CHAIRMAN of the delegation and High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, said: “We are delighted and united in recognising that you have made the commitment and showed dynamism in your leadership that we really appreciate.

“Also by showing the way, you want to make a difference for your people and putting in place both the short-term plans and the 25-year Borno State development plan and vision.”

The group expressed commitment to supporting Borno achieve durable solutions to overcome the challenges of improving IDPs’ livelihoods.