Borno gets N800m support from Norway on IDPs

The Norwegian government yesterday presented a $4 million (N800 million) donation to the Borno State government as assistance in the rehabilitation and resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) currently taking refuge in various camps in Maiduguri.
Presenting the cheque in Maiduguri yesterday, the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Rolf Ree, said the international community would continue to  assist the Borno state government in resettling displaced persons.
“The Norway government has been very much concerned about the plight and increasing number of displaced persons at various camps in the metropolis. My official visit to Maiduguri is to interact with the IDPs who are mainly children and women and hear what children say about their displacement from conventional schools and homes to see how they could be assisted in returning to their respective communities,” the envoy said.
He added that the financial assistance was expected to complement the state government’s effort in rebuilding destroyed communities before the return of displaced persons to their homes.
Governor Kashim Shettima said Norway was a front runner in supporting the state and its affected citizens.
“The Norwegian government has been assisting Borno State in cash and kind in building 2,500 family housing units at the Bakassi IDP camps. In a few weeks or months all the destroyed communities in 20 councils will be rebuilt and rehabilitated for some of the displaced persons to return and continue with their normal lives”, he said.
Shettima said on November 23, day-secondary schools in Maiduguri would be re-opened  while boarding schools would gradually resume for academic activities.