Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno state, has announced plans to shut down the Bama Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, the largest displacement camp in Borno State outside Maiduguri, within the next month as part of efforts to end prolonged displacement caused by insurgency.
The governor disclosed this on Thursday while speaking to journalists after an assessment visit to the Government Science Secondary School IDP Camp in Bama.
During the visit, Zulum personally supervised the screening of displaced persons for more than three hours to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries are captured in the ongoing resettlement programme.
According to the governor, the exercise is aimed at facilitating the safe and dignified return of displaced families to their ancestral communities and completing the closure of the camp.
“We are here to examine the remaining displaced people who are living in the IDP camp with a view to ensuring the closure of Bama IDP camp,” Zulum said.
He noted that the Borno state government has, over the past seven years, successfully resettled several communities in Bama Local Government Area, including Darajamal, Nguro Soye, Goniri, Banki and Abbaram, as part of its post-insurgency recovery efforts.
Zulum explained that screening of male heads of households from affected communities had been completed, while preparations were underway to resettle residents of the remaining communities.
“We have three communities that are left to be resettled, namely Mayanti, Goniri and Bula Kuriye. By the next one month, the Bama IDP camp, which is the largest camp in the state outside the state capital, will be closed,” he added.
Bama is among the local government areas most severely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, which displaced thousands of residents and destroyed critical infrastructure.
As part of his visit to Bama, Governor Zulum also inspected ongoing construction projects, including a modern shopping complex and the dualisation of the township road.
The governor commended the contractor handling the projects, describing them as vital components of the state government’s urban renewal programme.
He recalled that the Bama Market was destroyed during insurgent attacks about 15 years ago and was later rehabilitated under the administration of former Borno State Governor and current Vice President Kashim Shettima.
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Zulum disclosed that his administration is constructing a modern shopping complex comprising 156 shops in front of the market and undertaking a comprehensive remodelling of the facility to boost commercial activities and improve the town’s outlook.
“We are trying to provide a befitting shopping mall in front of the market, totalling 156 shops, while also remodelling the market as part of our urban renewal programme,” he said.
The governor said the market upgrade is expected to expand economic opportunities, improve livelihoods and create a more conducive environment for businesses and traders.
He also revealed plans to decongest the town through the dualisation of major internal roads, particularly the township road linking Maiduguri and Gwoza through Bama, while existing roads within the town would also be rehabilitated before the end of his administration.
