The Federal Government has so far released N5.2 billion to build houses to accommodate victims of Boko Haram insurgency in troubled Borno State, the Governor of the State, Prof. Babagana Zulum has revealed.
The governor who spoke during an assessment tour of 1,000 housing units for returning internally displaced persons at the outskirts of Maiduguri, said the money released by the federal government is for the building of 10,000 houses for 1.7 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) expected to be returned to their communities.
The IDP returnees, are currently taking refuge in IDP camps in Maiduguri, Dikwa, Monguno, Dolori and three border communities with Cameroon.
Zulum said the release of funds, was sequel to state government’ request last year for the construction of housing estates.
The governor while praising President Muhammadu Buhari for graciously approving the fund for the building of the housing units, said the houses on completion would ensure the resettling back of 1.7 million IDPs to their ancestral homes destroyed by insurgents.
Zulum while noting that the ongoing Dalori housing project, was an interventionfrom the Federal Government, said: “Because of the integrity of this government, the federal government has directed the release funds to the state government to undertake housing projects.