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FG earmarks N45 billion to rebuild liberated communities in North East

By Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri) and Segun Olaniyi (Abuja)
06 February 2018   |   4:29 am
The Federal Government has earmarked N45 billion for the rebuilding of destroyed liberated communities in the Northeast.

An aerial view taken on December 8, 2016 shows Bama, northeast Nigeria, where reconstruction is underway after the town was liberated from Boko Haram / AFP PHOTO / STEFAN HEUNIS

The Federal Government has earmarked N45 billion for the rebuilding of destroyed liberated communities in the Northeast.

The rebuilding of infrastructural facilities will fastrack the return of 2.8 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their communities, including 90, 000 refugees yet to be repatriated from Cameroun.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, while addressing dignitaries and members at a Town Hall Meeting for military and security agencies at Government House, Maiduguri.

He said the N45 billion, was specifically earmarked for the reconstruction and rebuilding of destroyed houses and public structures in communities that were liberated by the military in 2016.

Members at the meeting agreed that government should fight drugs abuse and integrate Civilian JTF into security force in Borno State.

His words: “Today’s meeting in Maiduguri, has enabled us identify the remaining challenges of security to lives and property. Boko Haram insurgents have been defeated, as the military and security have done a great of degrading the terrorists to the barest level.

“The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen Rogers Nicholas is a man of the moment, after holding a successful town hall meeting along with the Ministers of Defense, Interior, Budget and National Planning, Mannir Dan-Ali, Abdulrahaman Danbazau, Zainab Ahmed
and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State.”

He said the Borno State government has achieved and made life easier with the reconstruction and rehabilitation projects of the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Settlement (MRRR) and Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative (PCNI).

Dambazau said that 90, 000 refugees are yet to be repatriated from Cameroun. He further disclosed that 80 per cent of the refugees are from Borno State. He feared that because of the insecurity of liberated communities in the state, the exercise has been differed to next month.

He said insurgents have been decimated by the military.
According to Mohammed: “Boko Haram cannot carry out coordinated attacks again; as it is a sign of weakness of insurgents. There is the need for more vigilance to bring an end to terrorism in the liberated communities of Borno and the Northeast.

Dan-Ali listed the successes of the military to include the degrading of the capacities of Boko Haram, destruction of several arms, ammunition and camps and the promotion of many officers and soldiers to their higher ranks.

He said the main challenge of the military, was the full Implementation of Safe Corridors, where insurgents are de-radicalised for integration.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army says 26 combatant Boko Haram insurgents have surrendered to troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.
It said the terrorists who surrendered from the Damboa general area of southern Borno also submitted their weapons to the troops.

A statement signed by Deputy Director Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Col Onyema Nwachukwu on behalf of the Theatre Commander, Maj.Gen Rogers Nicholas told the insurgents that all Nigerians were delighted to witness their penitence and abandonment of Boko Haram’s hypocritical ideology and futile struggle.

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