Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Monday held a private meeting with Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State to discuss the resettlement of persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
The resettlement of internally displaced persons, IDPs, is one of the major issues that is being discussed and planned in the state at present.
President Muhammadu Buhari has already approved the construction of 10,000 homes in Borno State to house returning IDPs who fled from the insurgency to the state.
Zulum, who spoke to State House correspondents after the meeting, said that he also met President Buhari over the issue of the resettlement of the IDPs to enable them to work and earn their living.
“I had some discussions with the president and the vice president to look into the possibility of returning some of our internally displaced persons, especially those that are living in Niger Republic and those that are living in the Republic of Cameroon because this is very vital.
“We want to create access so that people can go back to their farmlands; people can cultivate their farmland and stay on their own.
“Otherwise, continuous dependence on food supply from donor partners, including the federal government, is not sustainable.
“Therefore, as peace is gradually returning to Borno State, we are trying to see how we can create the enabling environment for people to earn their living. One is through agriculture.”
Prof. Zulum noted that things were getting better in Borno State, but stated that the main concern of the state government was how to “shift from providing short-term humanitarian support to medium-term and long-term solutions.
“If you want to address the issue of insurgency, there is need for us to address the socio-economic and political dimensions of this crisis.”
Kampala Convention
According to Gov. Zulum, government is working in accordance with the African Union Convention for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, also known as the Kampala Convention.
“That means IDPs have to be returned based on voluntary, as well as, in a dignified manner.
“So, the Nigerian Army is doing well, honestly speaking, these days. The president has approved the construction 10,000 homes in Borno State.
“We have support from the family homes. And then the UN system is also supporting us all in an effort to ensure that we work towards an integrated solution, durable solution.
“I think this durable solution encompasses the issue of security, the issue of reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement and the issue of provision of means of livelihood,” Zulum stated.
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