By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
BORNO State Government and National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) are to collaborate with United Nations Refugee Council (UNRC) for resettlement of 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons in the state.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum made this known on Thursday while commissioning of NALDA – Rural Housing Scheme, Farm Training, and Empowerment Centre at Dusman Jere local government area of the state.
Zulum noted that the Boko Haram insurgency has displaced 3.5 million people in the state, but the government had so far resettled two million displaced persons.
According to him, Borno state government will continue to partner with Federal Government, ministry of humanitarian affairs, ministry of agriculture and Refuge Commission as well as National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) to resettle the remaining 1.5 million displaced persons.
“The improved peace in the state has mandated the closure of many camps and the return of two million displaced persons back to their ancestral communities.
“Yesterday, the Borno state government has inaugurated a committee to investigate the causes of conflict between harder and farmers to prosper solutions to Borno statement government.
In his welcome address, the Borno state commissioner for agriculture and mineral resources, Engr. Bawu Musami said, Zulum has created an enabling environment for returning the IDPs to boost agriculture activities in the state.
“Governor Babagana Zulum is doing well in reviving the agricultural activities in the state.”
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne said that NALDA has executed about 120 housing units and Primary school for children of IDPs and farmers, parts of which were commissioned by Governor Zulum on Thursday in Maiduguri.
He added that NALDA would continue to partner with Borno government for resettlement of displaced persons to enable them have access to their farmlands and improve upon their livelihood.
He advised other state governors to key into agricultural activities to create employment for teaming youths and to have enough food supply in the country as directed by President Bola Tinubu, inline with his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.
