By Chesa Chesa
Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum says his successful implementation of the ‘Safe School Initiative’ has helped check the incidents of mass kidnapping of students in the State.
He said so while speaking to State House correspondents shortly after he met behind closed-doors with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
According to the governor: “We started (the Safe School Initiative) about seven to eight years ago due to the insecurity situation in our state.
“I believe almost most of our schools are well fenced as part of the safe school initiative. We have also deployed the military, the civilian JTF, as well as hunters and vigilante who are working closely to ensure that our schools are safe. So we’re doing very well.
“I believe you haven’t heard much in Borno State as regards abduction of school children, it is because our school initiative is working very well. I also want to commend the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian police and all others. We’re working closely and they’re doing very well in terms of safeguarding our own schools.”
Fielding questions on the number of people the Ststte government has helped return to their homesteads as a result of abating insurgency, he said: “So far so good, within the last six to seven years, not less than 100,000 people were repatriated. This is the official figure.
“The unofficial figures might be more than this. But I want to inform you that we still have remnants of people living in Chad, Niger and Cameroon. I need to discuss with the National Commission for Refugees as well as NEMA and other organizations before coming out with a figure.
“But the most important thing that I want to tell you is that we have started the repatriation and this administration is committed to ensuring that all our refugees living in our neighboring countries are repatriated before the end of this administration.”
Zulum declared that the take-off of key projects, including the Yauri Irrigation scheme in northern Borno as well as the South Chad irrigation projects will help to consolidate the relative peace earnestly sought by the state.
This is as the Federal College of Education located in Gwoza is set to take off following the approval by the President.
The Governor also disclosed an assurance by the President for the establishment of a strong security outfit in the lake Chad basin to enable the people have unhindered access to farmlands.
“I spoke with Mr. President and the President will look into the possibility of establishing a very strong security outfit in the Lake Chad Basin so that people can have access to agricultural lands.”
“Since the country is looking forward to ensuring food security in terms of quantity and quality, when these two irrigation projects are reestablished, I believe the issue of food security will be addressed not only in Borno state, but also in Nigeria.”
