Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima has said that following the successes recorded in the battle to dislodge Boko Haram terrorists from the state, the Nigerian military is set to re-open the Maiduguri-Magumeri-Gubio and Damasak roads.
Shettima made this known when the Governor of Diffa, Republic of Niger, Muhammad Dandano, paid him a visit at the Government House, Maiduguri.
The roads have remained closed to vehicular traffic since 2013 when Boko Haram activities in Borno were at their peak.
He said the state government would commence reconstruction of Damasak in 2017 to enable inhabitants of the area to return to their homes.
His words, “Rebuilding Damasak is our priority. The Borno Abadam, Mobar and Magumeri people are rich farmers; they do not need any help if you return them to their communities.
Shettima expressed gratitude to the Niger delegation saying, “We commend the Republic of Niger for hosting about 90,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)”.
Responding, Dandano said his country had continued to give its maximum support to victims of violence displaced by Boko Haram insurgency.
He said IDPs from Nigeria were at the moment living peacefully and going about their normal socio-economic activities in Difa.
“We are giving the IDPs our maximum support as many of them have taken up farming and other ventures. When you go there you will hardly differentiate between an IDP from Nigeria from a Nigerien”.
He added, “We have also issued birth certificates to the children, who were born in Niger to enable them to have an identity”.
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