Borno State, Nigeria – Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has initiated the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to nine local government areas (LGAs) in Borno State, alongside the disbursement of N954.7 million to support their rehabilitation and livelihoods.
In a ceremony held on Friday, Governor Zulum announced that approximately 12,985 individuals, comprising 4,880 male heads of household, 1,230 female heads of household, and 6,875 married women, along with other family members, are set to be resettled across nine LGAs. The first phase of resettlement will focus on communities within Bama, Konduga, Gwoza, Kukawa, Jere, and Ngala LGAs.
Each of the 4,880 male heads of household and 1,230 female heads of household received N100,000, while 6,875 married women each received N50,000 in cash. Additionally, these married women were provided with maize, rice, mattresses, mats, oil, and kitchen utensils.
Governor Zulum emphasized that the food items distributed were part of the Federal Government’s support through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the office of the Vice President, and NEMA for their partnership in ensuring sustainable resettlement.
“This food item we are giving to the returnees is from NEMA. A few days ago, we launched the distribution of food items donated to the government of Borno by the federal government at Pulka,” said Governor Zulum. He reiterated the voluntary nature of the resettlement, aligning it with the Kampala Convention, which mandates that IDPs should be resettled in a dignified manner.
In addition to the resettlement efforts, Governor Zulum has approved N4.8 billion in scholarships for 524 Borno indigenes pursuing postgraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) both locally and abroad. The scholarship scheme, flagged off on Friday in Maiduguri, allocates ₦4,852,955,000 for scholarships. This includes ₦241,000,000 for the tuition fees of 241 Master’s degree candidates in Nigerian universities, ₦141,000,000 for 94 PhD candidates in Nigerian universities, ₦1,105,500,000 for 147 Master’s degree candidates studying abroad, and ₦286,350,000 for 42 PhD candidates studying abroad.
Governor Zulum’s dual initiatives highlight his administration’s commitment to not only resettling displaced persons but also investing in the educational advancement of the state’s residents.