Gov. Zulum, addressing officials of the United Nations (UN), who are on an assessment tour on the Lake Chad stabilization projects in Banki Town of Bama LGA
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has received officials of the United Nations (UN), who are on an assessment tour on the Lake Chad stabilization projects in Banki Town of Bama LGA of the state.
The UN officials were led by Edward Kallon, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, to assess the Lake Chad Stabilization facility projects in Banki Town, which is a major commercial town bordering Nigeria and Cameroon.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the stabilization projects were launched on July 17, 2019, to facilitate the implementation of a regional strategy for the stabilization, recovery and resilience of areas of the Lake Chad Basin affected by Boko Haram attacks, championed by the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).
The delegation inspected four ongoing projects, which include – construction of a police station and barracks, customs office and barracks, 500 housing estates and 5.3km boarder wall fence.
The projects are being executed by Borno State Government through the regional stabilization for Lake Chad Basin region.
Governor Zulum, who arrived at the town Tuesday evening before the UN officials arrived Banki on Wednesday, had supervised the allocation of food tokens that would automatically make 18,100 families whose livelihoods had been affected by Boko Haram insurgency, receive varieties of food items.
Each of the 18,100 families is expected to receive a bag of 25kg rice, a bag of 25kg beans and a bage of maize grit. Zulum’s supervision addressed issues of diversions of food done through illegal distribution of tokens.
The governor also ordered that when food arrives, distribution be made to volunteers supporting the Nigerian military in the fight against terrorism.
Part of food items to be shared, the governor explained, was donated by the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Customs Service, NEMA, NEDC an other parastatals.
Governor Zulum interacted with hunters, vigilantes and the Civilian Joint Task Force. He identified some of them with injuries gotten from battles with insurgents and ordered special medical care for them.
The Governor held series of meetings with security operatives and formations in order to roll out modalities that facilitate access to farmers return to their farmlands.