The Presidential Initiative on North-east Interventions (PINE) yesterday, stated Federal Government needs about N233 billion to reconstruct, rehabilitate and re-settle displaced Boko Haram victims in the three northeast states.
Its Chairman, Gen Theophilus Damjuma, stated at a North-east Humanitarian Multi stakeholders Engagement in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, that the carnage in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states requires proper coordination, co-operation and communication to alleviate the sufferings of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the reconstruction of destroyed communities.
As stated by Danjuma, the Federal Government and other stakeholders were determined to manage the humanitarian crisis in the zone, assuring that reconstruction of communities would soon commence after which IDPs would return to their liberated communities.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo while declaring the forum open, stated all the stakeholders were in Borno to show kindness to distressed Nigerians, urging participants to make meaningful contributions to address the humanitarian challenges in the northeast.
“We are in Maiduguri to show humanity and give milk of human kindness to our brothers and sisters whom for six years have been ravaged by Boko insurgency, by killing, maiming and abducting innocent people,” he stated.
The VP stated President Muhammadu Buhari asked him to come to Borno for the engagement and to also strengthen the capacity of civil organizations and to develop the capacity of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as well as individuals, so as to put the post-insurgency construction on a sound footing.
Host Gov Kashim Shettima of Borno State stated his government has already kick-started the reconstruction effort, but noted the collaboration of the Federal Government and other stakeholders would help in accelerating the resettlement of the IDPs. He stated the state government has created a ministry of rehabilitation and reconstruction.