The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has handed over houses to 447 displaced families in Dalori village, Konduga local government area of the state.
ASHENEWS recalls that the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), penultimate week, launched 120 housing units, where Executive Secretary Paul Ikonne, and Governor Babagana Zulum, unveiled the initiative in Maiduguri.
“This is part of its efforts to reduce poverty create wealth among smallholder farmers boost food production and give farmers good accommodation.’’
The facility located in the Dustman community, Zawiya Village, Borno, has a clinic, a school for children of farmers, a worship center, solar-powered boreholes, and access roads.
“The facility which is segmented has fish ponds, poultry houses, goat pens in its production area, raffia, and an already finished empowerment center where women and youths would undergo training,” Ikonne said adding, that the beneficiaries of the project are drawn from the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the state.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony of the 447 houses, Gov. Babagana Zulum, said the measure was part of the ongoing reconstruction, rehabilitation, and resettlement programme of his administration.
“Those resettled today were living in unofficial camps in Maiduguri.
“We want to close not less than three unofficial camps still existing in Maiduguri before May 29.
“It is no longer sustainable to keep people in camps, providing them with food and non-food items,” Zulum said.
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He noted that the resettled communities had provided basic facilities like water, clinics, and schools. In contrast, families were provided with a source of livelihood including farm inputs to start farming.
“We also provided women with skills training and sewing machines.”
The governor urged residents of the state to exercise patience over the current challenges occasioned by inflation, adding that he will inaugurate the distribution of food and non-food items to 100,000 vulnerable households in Maiduguri metropolis and environs soon.
Zulum said that the same gesture would be extended to vulnerable persons in the southern part of the state comprising Biu, Askira/Uba, Bayo, Shani, Hawul, Chibok, and Kwaya-kusar LGAs.
A beneficiary of one of the houses, Fatima Ali, said she is excited to return home after eight years.
NAN
