Zulum hands over 1,900 new houses to IDPs
A total of 1,900 new houses built by Borno State Government and partners have been handed over to families displaced by insurgency in Monguno.
The housing estate consists of 1,000 two-bedroom semi-detached low-cost houses and another 900 semi-permanent shelters with basic amenities such as a health centre and borehole.
About 1,874 displaced families from 14 communities benefited from the housing project. Each of them also received food and non-food items, N50,000 cash for the household heads and another N20,000 for each housewife.
Also inaugurated in Monguno by the governor, assisted by the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annet Gunther, and the Country Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, Elsie Attafuah, was a 100-seat capacity ICT centre to facilitate digital education.
In her speech, Amb. Gunther commended Governor Zulum for the laudable projects that helped people affected by insurgency to pick up the pieces of their lives.
“This housing project is also a great example of collaboration between the government of Borno State and international partners. Funding for the housing units comes from both the state government and international partners,” she said.
Similarly, Attafuah said that the housing project aligns with UNDP’s regional stabilisation effort in the Lake Chad region.
Governor Babagana Zulum, in his address, explained that while the German Government funded the construction of 500 permanent and another 900 semi-permanent shelters, Borno State Government constructed the remaining 500 houses, the health centre, borehole and other amenities.
“A Letter of Agreement (LOA) was signed between Borno State Government and UNDP in 2020 under the RS German Initiative to start the construction of 500 housing units. In August 2023, another LOA was signed under RSF German reintegration funds aimed at completing the 500 permanent housing units, providing an additional 900 semi-permanent shelters, and installing 375 solar streetlights,” the governor said.
He added that apart from these efforts, the government also constructed 500 permanent housing units and provided toilets for the temporary shelters, bringing the total number of houses constructed to 1,900.
According to Zulum, the accommodation will play a crucial role in the voluntary decongestion and eventual closure of some IDP camps in Monguno, and ensuring a smoother transition for resettling families.
The governor expressed gratitude to the Governments of Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Egypt and the European Union, among other donors for supporting Borno State.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Germany for their generous contribution and to UNDP for their unwavering partnership.
“Additionally, we thank all other donors and contributors to the RSF, UN OFFER, and other funding initiatives dedicated to promoting peace, stability, reintegration and development in Borno State,” Zulum stated.
Also present were the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Foud, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, Esty Sotyoko, the head of UNDP office, Maiduguri, Mathew Alao, community leaders and citizens.