The Borno State Government has successfully resettled more than 3,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into 500 newly constructed mass housing units in Dara Jamal community, Bama Local Government Area.
The relocation exercise, conducted on Monday, is part of the state's ongoing Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (RRR) programme aimed at rebuilding communities affected by conflict across the state.
Prior to their relocation, the beneficiaries had been taking refuge at Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) in Bama town for several years.
Speaking during the exercise, Lawan Wakilbe, Chairman of the Committee on Resettlement of Dara Jamal and Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, emphasized that the initiative aligns with the state government's vision to restore dignity and livelihoods to displaced persons.
"The State Government reconstituted the Bama Reconstruction Committee in 2023 with a renewed mandate – to rebuild Dara Jamal, commence the reconstruction of Maiyinti, continue works in Tarmuwa, and begin reconstruction in Kumshe," Wakilbe stated.
"Today, we are pleased to announce the successful completion of 500 houses in Dara Jamal and the resettlement of more than 3,000 displaced persons. Dara Jamal is one of several communities in the Bama local government area that were heavily impacted by the Boko Haram insurgency," he added.
Wakilbe revealed that beyond the 500 permanent housing units already completed, the state government plans to construct an additional 1,000 temporary shelters to accommodate another 3,000 people, particularly returnees engaged in the ongoing farming season.
Support Packages for Resettled Families
As part of comprehensive support measures, the Borno state government provided each head of household with N100,000 and an additional N25,000 to each wife to help them restart their lives.
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) also contributed relief materials, including 25kg bags of rice, three litres of cooking oil, mattresses, mats, and cartons of spaghetti.
"We are grateful to the Federal Government, through the National Refugee Commission, for the resettlement support packages and to the Borno state government for the financial palliatives," Wakilbe said.
He also expressed gratitude to security agencies: "We thank the Army, Police, Civil Defence, and Vigilante Groups for their unwavering commitment and visible presence in Dara Jamal."
Long-term Resettlement Goals
The initiative forms part of Borno State's broader commitment to rebuilding communities destroyed by insurgency and returning displaced persons to their ancestral homes.
According to Wakilbe, the Borno government aims to close all IDP camps and complete the resettlement of displaced persons by the end of 2027, marking a significant milestone in the state's recovery from the Boko Haram insurgency that has displaced millions over the past decade.
The Dara Jamal resettlement represents a crucial step in the state's healing process, providing not just housing but hope for communities devastated by conflict.
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