The Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) has handed over 1,000 units of two-bedroom bungalows  to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State.

The Commission has also built and handed over a state-of-the-art burn centre for the treatment of Boko Haram bomb victims at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

The houses constructed at Ngwom, Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State were handed over to Borno State Government by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Faruq Mohammed at the village which is located about 20km from Maiduguri, the state capital.

The Managing Director of the Northeast Development Commission Mohammed Alkali had earlier at the opening ceremony of the event at the Multi-purpose Hall of the Government House Maiduguri announced that the  project was part of the 10,000 housing programme approved by the  Federal Government in 2019 under the Special Presidential Intervention in Borno State (SPIB) as a result of insurgency.

The NEDC boss explained that the 1,000 housing units comprised four blocks of 2-bedroom bungalows with veranda and courtyard in a cluster arrangement.

He noted that Ngwom, which was once an agrarian settlement, has now been transformed into a town with modern houses and social amenities accompanied with “solar-powered street lights, four industrial solar-powered boreholes, planted over 3,000 economic trees, and provision made for school, markets, police station and motor-park.

“We are delivering a town at Ngwom as against its earlier village status.  Each block sits on 400 square meters with a perimeter fence and ample space for other home activities,” the NEDC boss said.

The MD also announced that all beneficiaries of the houses are to be handed over food items ranging from 2,000 bags of rice, 2,000 cartons of spaghetti, and 2,000 gallons of vegetable oil.

Other non-food items to be benefitted by the IDPs he said, including 5,000 pieces of blankets, 5,000 mattresses, 5,000 mats, 4,000 pieces of children wear, 4,000 women wrappers, 4,000 pieces of mosquito nets, 5,000 pairs of slippers, 2,000 men brocade, 1,000 cartons of antiseptic soaps.

The NEDC as part of its support for the displaced people, especially women announced the distribution of Economic Empowerment Tools  to women for resettlement in the community.

“The NEDC, with the approval of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, will also distribute livelihood support to the occupants of the houses after thorough needs assessment and training.

“The livelihood support tool to be distributed comprised 1,000 cooking stoves, 200 grinding machines, 200 knitting machines, 200 sewing machines and 200 spaghetti-making machines, the MD said.

Chairman Board of NEDC, Maj-Gen Paul Tarfa (rtd) said “the project is one of the most important projects since NEDC creation not because of its magnitude but the impact it will have on our people in Borno State.

“I am happy that the Commission with the commitment of the MD is delivering on her mandate,” Tarfa said.

The retired general said the project for mass housing “commenced last year, and till date not only had we visited the sites many times but also ensured quality standards in the building of the projects.”

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Edward Kallon said the event signifies “light at the end of the tunnel.”

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum praised the commitment of the Federal Government for the rebuilding and recovery of Borno State, the NEDC and other intervention schemes.

He noted that the 1,000 housing units were just one among the numerous supports of President Mohamadu Buhari to that state from the Commission and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

Other highlights of the events were the presentation of  certificates to 218  ICT graduates in the state.

There were also a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a 300-seater auditorium for the Centre for the Study of Violent Extremism at the University of Maiduguri and the inauguration of a burn centre for victims of Boko Haram bomb explosions.

Credit-Nation