Resettlement a step towards rebuilding a ‘better and stronger Borno’ where communities will have a safe place to live with access to essential services and economic opportunities.
More than 1,100 households from 10 communities in the Bama district of Borno State have been resettled in new homes and shelters.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum officially opened an estate comprising 500 houses and 1,000 newly constructed shelters in Nguro-Soye on Tuesday, August 6.
He said the project was part of his administration’s efforts to resettle displaced persons and rebuild communities affected by the 15-year insurgency.
In addition to new homes, each household head received ₦50,000 in cash, as well as essential items such as mats, mattresses, mosquito nets, beans, seedlings and agrochemicals. Each of the wives received ₦25,000.
The housing estate includes essential public facilities such as schools, a primary healthcare centre and water facilities, addressing the basic needs of the resettled households.
The project provides safe homes and shelters for more than 1,100 households that were displaced from 10 communities in the Bama Local Government Area – Burari, Adamri, Zaramri and Mairamri in Soye town, and Dambiya, Shaan I, Shaan II, Makintari, Bulbulin Ngaura and Diwa Ngaura in Jodri town.
During the inauguration, Zulum emphasised his administration’s commitment to closing all internally displaced persons’ camps by the end of 2026.
“Today’s resettlement of these 10 communities is a significant step towards closing internally displaced persons’ camps in the congested Bama township,” Zulum said.
He reiterated the goal of rebuilding “a better and stronger Borno”, where displaced communities would be resettled in safe reconstructed houses and where they would have access to essential services and economic opportunities.
“Since 2019, we have reconstructed Bama township, Banki, Nguro-Soye and Mallam Chelumri. Currently, we are also rebuilding Darul Jamal with 500 houses under construction along with other social utilities,” Zulum said.
“Reconstruction efforts are ongoing in Tarmua Town and block moulding will soon begin ahead of the reconstruction of Kumshe, Mayanti and Bula Yobe. Phase 2 of Bama township’s reconstruction, targeting 2,000 houses in two years, is also in progress.”
On Sunday, August 4, more than 5,000 displaced persons in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State were successfully resettled.
Karfagana Baga told RNI he was satisfied with the security situation in the area.
“Security forces, along with civilian joint task force [CJTF] members, built a trench around the settlement to ensure the safety of the community. They also removed all improvised explosive devices [IEDs] that had been hidden by insurgents. It’s now safe to live here.”
Alhaji Mustapha Goni said he and his four family members were grateful to be resettled in Kukawa town.
“Now we can rebuild our livelihoods in peace,” he said.
Goni Laminu said he was happy to be resettled in Kukawa but he hoped the government would reconstruct houses in the community.
“The government has taken a bold step in resettling us but there are still a few challenges. We lack proper shelters. Most of the displaced persons who have returned to Kukawa are struggling. Insurgents destroyed our houses. We are all crammed into our houses but most of them are in bad shape, without proper roofs.
“It is the rainy season now, so we are waiting for the government to rebuild our homes and fix the leaking roofs.”
FALMATA MOHAMMED ALI
