As insurgency subsides, Shettima commences reconstruction of Borno

As Boko Haram hostilities are coming to an end, Borno State government has commenced the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure destroyed by insurgents with a view to resettling those displaced by the crisis. Inspecting ongoing works at Auno, Jakana and Benesheikh in the state which form the first phase of reconstruction of structures destroyed by […]

As Boko Haram hostilities are coming to an end, Borno State government has commenced the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure destroyed by insurgents with a view to resettling those displaced by the crisis.
Inspecting ongoing works at Auno, Jakana and Benesheikh in the state which form the first phase of reconstruction of structures destroyed by insurgents, Governor Kashim Shettima said all the destroyed buildings will be replaced with modern structures that will make it attractive for inhabitants to return back to their original places of abode.
Some of the projects he inspected include residential houses, schools, hospitals, police stations, courts, local government secretariats and places of worship that were destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents and now being reconstructed by the state government. Speaking during the inspection of the projects, Governor Shettima said, “As you can see, we are using POP instead of Brazilian ceiling in all the buildings we have visited, be they classrooms, offices, hostels, dining halls and what have you in primary and secondary schools. All the buildings in all hospitals from wards to offices and staff quarters, housing estates and generally, all our buildings.
“We are also using aluminum roofing sheets instead of zinc; we are using sliding windows that we use in our houses. We are using quality doors on all the buildings. All these are part of the standards we have set so as to take advantage of the unfortunate destructions and remodel our towns to turn them into model places that will improve the quality of living for our people.
“We are completely rebuilding the destroyed communities with a remodeling mindset to turn them into cities with modern infrastructure that will stand the taste of time with very functional service delivery in water supply, healthcare, education and other essentials.
“Insha Allah, with the massive support we are awaiting from the federal government, Borno will be transformed. President Muhammadu Buhari has shown sufficient commitment to ending this insurgency and he has shown equal commitment to the reconstruction and rehabilitation process and we appreciate him and all stakeholders involved in supporting Borno.
“We have had 20 local government areas affected while Yobe and Adamawa had between two and six each. Borno is the worst affected and we are sure justice will be accorded Borno and to all states affected,” he said.

Part of the ongoing projects the governor inspected in Auno which is about 21 kilometers from Maiduguri towards Damaturu include a modern low cost housing estate and a primary healthcare center with provision for staff quarters for doctors, nurses and other health workers.
Other structures being put in place in the town include a modern primary school as well as the residence of the district head, newly constructed boreholes and a central mosque that has already been completed.
In Jakana, 15 kilometers from Auno, the governor inspected the reconstruction of a police station and barracks, a primary school where he directed for the immediate drilling of additional borehole for the community.
At Benisheikh the headquarters of the local government area, the governor inspected ongoing construction of a General Hospital with six units of staff houses, the construction of a new local government secretariat, a boarding primary school, two other primary schools, a secondary school, an office complex for the Federal Road Safety Commission, an estate of 20 units of houses, an upper area court, a magistrate court, a cooperative store and the Divisional Police Headquarters.
The governor said the second phase of reconstruction of the state will include the reconstruction of Bama, Gwoza and Askira Uba where the molding of blocks for the construction work has already started even as construction equipment have been purchased.