By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
In fulfilment of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s promise last year on resettlement of all IDPs to their ancestral homes and communities, on Thursday, the governor flagged off the closure and relocation of about 52,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have been living in camps within the state capital, Maiduguri city for about seven years or more amidst tight security by the State IDPs Resettlement Committee under the Chairmanship of Hon. Engr. Bukar Talba.
This marks the official closure of the remaining.four IDPs camps within Maiduguri city, the state capital having a total number of 11, 711 IDPs..
While flagging off the closure of the designated IDPs camps at Dalori II IDPs camp, along Konduga – Bama Road located at the outskirts of the town, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum said, ” it is with deep sense of responsibility today, as we are witnessing the closure of Dalori I, Dalori II, Gubio and Muna El badawi Camps.
“This occasion could not be possible without the support of Victim’s Support Fund (CSF) that supported this programme with N1.7 billion.
” VSF has rehabilitated houses, health facilities, schools and other public buildings in Dikwa, Bama, Konduga, Marte, Gwoza and Mafa and the residents have since been resettled. keeping IDPs in the camps is no sustainable, with today’s occasion, all camps within Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere local government areas are hereby closed.
” The VSF has contributed a a lot to the resettlement efforts, the VSF has supported this Borno State Government with the sum of N1.7 to relocate the IDPs in Dalori I and II, Gubio and Muna IDPs camps, .
” VSF is the largest donor in the post insurgency resettlement programmes in the state, it has contributed more than any government agency. VSF has supported the state government in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of many houses and public buildings destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents.”, Zulum said.
The Governor further stated that the state government had earlier closed, the NYSC, Bakaassi, MOGOLIS, Teachers Village and Stadium IDPs camps, adding, “with the closure of these four camps today, all.official IDPs camps in Maiduguri are closed.”
He also said that before the end of his first tenure (May 29, 2023) , the people of Gudumbali will be relocated and resettled too.
While thanking the VSF for the support, Zulum assured that the Borno State Government is committed to the relocation of all IDPs voluntarily and in dignified manner in accordance with the Kampala convention.
Earlier in his remarks, the Borno State Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Engr Mustapha Gubio said, “today we are happy to witness the closure of four additional camps, last year we closed six camps which include, NYSC, MOGOLIS, Teachers Village, Bakassi, and Stadium IDPs camp..
“A total of 2, 841 households made up.of 178, 776 persons.. The ministry has constructed 120 houses in Kawuri 1,200 houses in Mafa, 1,000 houses in Dalori, 500 houses in Pulka, 300 houses in Warabe, and 300 houses in Miringa all geared toward resettling our IDPs “,Mustapha said.
The Chairman, Borno State Resettlement Committee, Engr Bukar Talba thanked God, Governor’ Zulum and the VSF for the closure of the IDPs camps and urged the returnees to be resilient and pray for the complete restoration of peace to the state.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary, Prof. Nana Tanko said, “we are here to support the people to return back to their ancestral homes, we are going to support them with livelihood to help them.pick up the pieces of their lives.”
” Today we supporting them with non.food items such as mats, blankets, buckets, wrappers, kitchen utensils, mattress, detergents among other, and food items which includes, a bag of rice, Maize, beans, vegetable oil among others, as well as cash to support their business,” she explained.
In his goodwill message, a Member of VSF Board of Directors who is also the Secretary of the Borno Elders Forum, Dr Bulama Mali Gubio said with the closure of these four camps, the Borno State Government has fulfilled its promise of closing all camps in Maiduguri.
In her welcome address, the Director General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Hajiya Yabawa Kolo said, ” today’s occasion marks a great achievement to the agency and government of the state, as we witness the closure of four camps and the relocation of IDPs back to.their communities and were supported with livelihood support and in dignified manner.
” A total of 11,704 IDPs are today going to be relocated back to their communities with partnership.and support from VSF who supported us with food and non food item to help them get back to their businesses”.
