The federal government on Monday unveiled plans to reconstruct North-east areas ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency. The said plan will kick-off the implementation of a comprehensive rebuilding plan under the Bama Initiative scheme.
Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Acting President stated this in a statement issued by his media aide, Laolu Akande.
Akande said the acting President was speaking at a meeting that comprised the governor Kashim Shettima of Borno, some ministers and service chiefs in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.
According to Osinbajo, the Bama Initiative will lead to the construction of 3000 new homes, 10 police stations, 18 primary and secondary schools, health centres, creation of Special Bama Squad for security and the recruitment of 1500 local hunters as Agro Rangers, among others
“Under what has been termed as the Bama Initiative, the Federal Government will contribute 67 per cent of the funding, while Borno State would provide the balance of 33 per cent.
“It is a partnership that is certainly going to work.’’
The Bama Initiative will cover towns such Bama, Banki, Gulumba Gara and other places.
The federal government in partnership with the Borno state government is expected to carry out actual re-construction of houses for the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as provide infrastructure such as roads for Bama town and adjoining communities.
The Initiative will also see to the kitting and deployment of thousands of police officers and officers of the National Security, Civil Defence Corps who are expected to be trained for the special task.
It is expected that the implementation of the plan will kick-off in next few weeks.
The meeting, which was presided over by the acting President, was attended by the ministers of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; the Budget & National Planning (of State), Zainab Ahmed and the Power, Works & Housing (of State); Mustapha Shehuri.
Other government functionaries at the meeting included the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and the National Security Adviser to the President, Baba Munguno.
Others were the military, police and civil defence chiefs, and the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency.
By Tony Nwanne
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