Security Challenges Threaten Reconstruction Activities in Borno - Engr Gubio

...As RRR Ministry Reconstruct 63 Projects, Completed 55, 8 are Ongoing...

By Sadiq Abubakar, The Nigerian Voice, Maiduguri

Security challenges in the past one year under review of Governor Babagama Umara Zulum of Borno State threatened reconstruction, rehabiliation and resettlement activities in some LGAs of the state.

He said however that reconstruction and rehabiliation activities will resume fully in some areas whenever there is assurance from secuirty agents presence in the LGAs as secuirty issues are still difficult coupled with the terrain, transportation and inaccessibility of the areas.

The Borno State Commissioner of Reconstruction, Rehabiliation and Resettlement (RRR), Engineer Mustapha Gubio stated this at a inter- ministerial press briefings held at the Multi purpose hall of the Government House Maiduguri Tuesday.

Engineer Gubio added that the ministry experienced number of challenges such as insecuirty, terrain, inaccessibility and transportation which truncated the efforts and plans of the state government and threatened the ministry's zeal to carry out reconstruction and rehabiliation works successfully in the areas especially in 5 LGAs of the extreme northern part of the state which include Abadam, Guzamala, Kukawa, Mobbar and Gubio LGAs.

He however noted that", despite the threats and challenges, Governor Babagama Umara Zulum was boldly able within 12 months of his administration and first year in office to reconstruct and rehabilitate properties destroyed by Boko Haram Insurgents to relocate the IDPs and civil authorities among others."

"However, plans are on top gear to commence work in Baga, Kukawa and Cross Kauwa among others where the level of destruction is less and secuirty availability assured .

" Lake Chad Basin Authority facilities destroyed by the Boko Haram Insurgents are yet to be reconstructed and rehabilitated to enable farming activities resume and create job opportunities for the people.

"Nevertheless, the ministry has completed all reconstruction activities inherited from the immediate past government while new construction works have been embarked upon also", Mustapha said.

He said the ministry executes 55 projects to completion stage and 8 other projects were still on going which include markets, lock up shops/stalls, government lodges, primary, secondary and Islamiya schools, high and magistrate court complexes, police stations and barracks, shopping complexes, housing units/etates, Emir's palaces, district head palaces, LGC secretariats, furnishing of LGC Secretariats and construction of new housing estates across the state.

Others include construction of UMTH Auditorium, remodelling of former State Ministry of Land & Survey to Borno State Geographic Information Service, worshipping centers (churches and mosques), rehabilitation of LEA office complexes, rehabilitation of Musa Usman State Secretariat, construction of skills acquisition centers, IDPs emergency shelters, hospitals, clinics and boreholes among others destroyed by the Boko Haram Insurgents in the past 11 years with the view to enable the Internally displaced persons (IDPs) return to their ancestral homes to continue with their normal life.

According to him, some of the projects were directly executed and funded by the borno State Government while others were by donor agencies as intervention funds but the housing projects were all funded by the state government.

He further explained that the relocation of the IDPs will soon commence after the completion of the Reconstruction projects and clearance from the secuirty agencies on safety of lives and property in the localities while rehabiliation aspect of the ministry will involve empowerment , entreprenuership and livelihood programmes