The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adamawa

  • I sacrificed my Presidential ambition for Buhari – Ribadu

    Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has said the he sacrificed his Presidential ambition to allow President Muhammadu Buhari go for a second term in office because of the good work he is doing for the country.

    Speaking in an interview with newsmen, Ribadu also threw his weight behind the President allowing the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu to continue to head the agency despite opposition from the National Assembly, saying fighting corruption is the most difficult job to do.

    Asked whether he was sacrificing his presidential ambition because of President Buhari, Ribadu who is contesting the governorship primary of the APC in Adamawa State, said “You can say part of it. Of course, that is a good reason. When you agree with a leadership, it is okay that you step aside and allow good thing to happen and I am comfortable with that.

    “That is okay. It is fine if what you have in your heart is honest service. Any chance is an opportunity for you to do what you can to help your own people, you cannot shy away from that. I have no issue with that.

    “Today, President Buhari is our President and I agree with him totally and I am comfortable with the leadership he is giving this country. If there is anything under, I can also make my own contribution, I am very much prepared to do so.”

    Speaking on the non confirmation of the appointment of the EFCC Chairman, Ribadu said “This is sad part of our country. To even get things done properly and correctly becomes almost impossible. I don’t see any reason why they will not confirm him and allow him to do the work properly. I totally agree with the federal government in allowing him to do this work.

    “Whatever you can say about Ibrahim Magu, you cannot take away the fact that he is a honest person and a very courageous person. These are some of the requirements you need in an anti corruption agency. He is doing extremely well.

    “I know him and I know how the place works. I know this difficult in doing this work for our country. I am in total agreement with the decision of the federal government to allow him to continue. It is a matter of courage because fighting corruption is the most difficult job to do.

    “It will require all the sacrifice, all the patience and everything that everybody can give for us to make an impact. We are going the right direction. It is tough one, a difficult one, but Nigerians should please go along with it and support it. If we don’t, the chances are that we will not be able to do anything in this country.”

    On whether the EFCC was right in investigating accounts of state government and state governors, he said “I told you earlier that fighting corruption is not easy. It is not likely that you will please everyone. You will have to go after people who are in control of government.

    “I won’t go to the village and go after somebody for the fun of it. It has to be people who are in charge and on control and often, they are people in opposition or against.
    “When you are fighting corruption, there are targets and the target is often people who are in charge of our own wealth and if they mismanage it, the agency has a duty to go after them. But I don’t think that you can do it outside the law.

    “There are rules and regulations that govern and determine the way you conduct yourself, as long as you follow it, as long as you are within the permission of the law, I think we must understand that it has to be done. Look across the world, the issue of fighting corruption is the same thing all over. People are saying the same thing they are saying in Nigeria.

    “We are not different from the rest of the world. Fighting corruption is the most difficult thing. It is the most difficult job you can do, especially if you are going to do it with all honesty and with good intentions. There is no way that you will not be condemned.”

    On the allegation that Corrupt persons were joining the APC for protection, he said “I don’t think that is the case, but that is the beauty of democracy. People are entitled to be where they want to be. Constitutionally, no one has the right to stop you fr9m belonging to any political party. It is the fundamental right of individuals to belong where they want to and no one has the right to.

    “You have no right to stop the, because they are entitled to. I am not saying that I totally agree with what is going on. It is not my choice that today, I am from Nigeria, from Adamawa and from Yola. I found myself here and I have no right to say that simply because I disagree with somebody from Yola, I don’t want to play a role or participate in making Adamawa a great place.

    “I have no right to exclude anybody. Nobody has the right to stop another person from belonging to any Organisation of Association. Even if you disagree, you can’t do much about it. If somebody is corrupt, let the law take its course. I don’t think that can be a reason for you to stop a person from belong to a political party.

    “I think these are things that you have to get clear. It is in our constitution that you are free to belong to a political party, you are free to contest unless the constitution says you cannot. Those issues are constitutional, and fundamental and Nigerians will just have to understand that.”

    On why he wants to be Governor, Ribadu said “I just want to serve. In Adamawa State, just like many other states in Nigeria deserve better leadership. We can do better. We are faced with challenges and difficulties and people will just have to come forward and stand up.

    “When you are faced with challenges and problems, people will have to stand up and confront it. I believe that anybody with something to offer must come forward and I believe I have something to offer. I believe that I can work honestly and change the way things are, I can run a government that is honest, just, fair and all inclusive.

    “I will address the problem of insecurity. I will certainly change the lives of our people. That is the reason why I still want to try and see if Nigerians will give us chance.”

  • Adamawa: Ex- SGF, Aisha Buhari’s brother, Ribadu, insist on direct primary

    Stakeholders, governorship aspirants and statutory delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir Lawal have warned that any attempt to foist the indirect primary option on the party in the state may cause the party the 2019 governorship election.

     

    The stakeholders including Dr. Mahmud Halilu, believed to be brother to the Wife of President Muhammadu Buhari and former EFCC Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu told a news conference in Abuja at the weekend that only primaries conducted through direct option will be acceptable to the generality of members of the party in the state.

     

    The former SGF who spoke on behalf of the stakeholders said that as a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, there is no way a proper stakeholders meeting can be held in the state without being invited, adding that the meeting which endorsed indirect primary for the state was secretly called and held inside the government house.

     

    He reminded leaders of the party at all level of a pending appeal against the conduct of the congresses that brought the current leaders to office in the state, adding that any primary conducted by such a group will be null and void.

     

    Lawal said: “Further to our press conference of 27th April 2018 on APC elective congresses, we are constrained to once again express our total rejection to the Indirect Primaries being concocted by Adamawa State Government and their cohorts.

     

    “You will recall that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great Party APC has adopted the Direct Primaries for the nomination of candidates for the 2019 general elections. We hereby commend our dear National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole and members of the NEC of our Party for the progressive landmark decision which is also in accordance with the yearnings and aspirations of the members and the general public and the need to strengthen our internal democracy.

     

    “For a long time especially in the days building up to the current political activities, otherwise key and respectable stakeholders in the Party have been increasingly marginalized and Party activities and processes carried out more and more shrouded in secrecy to exclude legitimate interests.

     

    “This policy of exclusion came to a head with the purported meeting of the State Executive Committee convened at the Government house on Monday, September 3, 2018 where Indirect Primaries was allegedly adopted as mode of electing Party flag bearers.

     

    “That meeting was convened secretly and thus, we the undersigned aspirants, statutory delegates and critical stakeholders were kept in the dark and were not invited. It was therefore a meeting of like minds, persons who are prepared to perpetuate illegality to satisfy the whims of a single individual who has totally lost out in popularity and integrity.

     

    “We, as aspirants, statutory delegates and stakeholders want to unequivocally dissociate ourselves from the purported resolution which was done in bad faith and is bound to affect the image and chances of our great Paty in the forthcoming elections.

     

    “The larger majority of the APC family in Adamawa received the news of the adoption of Direct Primaries by NEC of the Party with pleasure and enthusiasm. Our members are pleased that they are going to help the Party in nominating credible, acceptable and marketable candidates to fly the Party’s flag. We, therefore, cannot allow unpopular persons who are afraid of voters to change the rule of the game.

     

    “It is equally necessary to remind all the parties concerned of the pendency of an appeal filed in respect of the outcome of the ward, local government and state congresses in Adamawa state in May, 2018. Step taken to over reach or disregard the legal processes may result in the nullification of whatever the outcome sooner than later.

    “The focus of our APC government on integrity exemplified by transparency, accountability and total eradication of corrupt practices should have no room for Indirect Primaries.

     

    “It is in his commitment to the culture of probity and accountability that President Muhammadu Buhari opted for Direct Primaries. As we stated in our letter to our dear National Chairman NEC, we affirm support for Direct Primaries based on our firm belief that encapsulates the following among other merit.

     

    “Direct Primaries is an inclusive way of deciding who flies the party flag with all bona fide members of the party having a chance to make their choice. It gives meaning to membership of the party as followers are included in taking vital decisions like who represents their party in the general elections.

     

    “Democracy differs from feudalism. It is by popular definition a means of governance by the people and for the people. Making contests open and transparent, with everybody having a say, as in Direct Primaries, is a true expression of democratic values which the APC strives to uphold.

     

    “Because Direct Primaries happen at different places at the same time, it enables peace and tranquility, as well as orderly conduct by all involved in the process.

     

    “The Indirect Primaries (delegate system) is long discredited for wanton use of money and sheer corruption. With a notice of pending appeal already served on the Party and seven others, Indirect Primaries is not an option at all.

     

    “To cap it all, in his wisdom and culture of ethics and uprightness, President Muhammadu Buhari chose to have the Presidential Primaries in direct form, and wonder why anyone else, with even smaller constituency would oppose the popular choice of the people and that of our dear President.

     

    “We also want to assure the Chairman, and by extension the National Secretariat, that Adamawa State is fit and ready for Direct Primaries. There is the needed tranquility and peace to guarantee peaceful election all over the state.

     

    “It amuses us, and all those who care to ponder, that the same persons who claimed to have conducted congresses in all wards of the state will now change overnight to make a case against Direct Primaries because of alleged insecurity.

     

    “The exclusion of well-meaning members of our party like us did not start today, or with the purported stakeholders meeting of September 3. Long before now, the Party and its affairs are skewed to exclude persons considered as threats to the ambition of some individuals.

     

    “We and our supporters were completely shut out of the congresses at all levels in the state in May this year. Forms were hoarded by State Party officials and our supporters only managed to purchase forms after we protested to the National Headquarters and an extension was granted to accommodate us. Yet, the process was still hijacked and committees sent to conduct those congresses were either bought over or hijacked to do the bidding of the state government.

     

    “Some of us have written letters to draw attention to this plight and reject outcome of the so called congresses, but were shockingly ignored by the party, thus the concerned parties decided to go to court to protest the clear fraud perpetrated in the name of congresses.

     

    “We therefore feel there is no legitimacy for a set of people whose purported election is still being challenged before the courts to be allowed to conduct or participate in the primaries. Rather, the process should be opened up and thrown at all Party members to take decisions in who they want to fly the party’s flag.

     

    “We once again assure our great Party of our total support and loyalty to its progressive leadership while firmly hoping that the right thing will be done.”

    Those who attended the briefing include Engineer Babachir D. Lawal, Senator Ahmed Abubakar Mo’Allayid, Senator Abubakar Halilu Girei mni, Senator Bello Tukur, Engineer Marcus Gundiri mni, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu mni, Sadiq Muhammed (Walin Ganye), Dr. Mahmoud Halilu.

  • Floods kill 19 in Adamawa, Gombe

    Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) and the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) have confirmed the death of 19 people in floods.

    Ten persons died in Adamawa and nine in Gombe.

    ADSEMA Executive Secretary Dr Muhammed Suleiman, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Yola, said hundreds of domestic animals, including cattle, were also lost to the flood.

    He said the deaths recorded were particularly from Yola South, Guyuk,  Lamurde and  Song  local government areas of the state.

    Gombe SEMA’s Deputy Director, Rescue and Rehabilitation Mrs Lamis Benjamin said four of the nine deaths were recorded in May following a downpour in Gombe town.

    She said the remaining five deaths were recorded in Cham community of Balanga Local Government Area of the state in August also after a downpour.

    The deputy director also said over 200 houses and numerous farm lands were washed away in Nyuwar, Jesu Cham in Balanga and Komta Ayaba in Biliri local government areas.

    In Cross River State  flood destroyed more than 175 houses, rendered at least 3,000 people homeless, according to Mr John Inaku, Director-General of State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA).

    The Rice Famers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Kano State was counting its losses yesterday. Flood has destroyed over 5,000 hectares of rice farm in some local government areas of the state.

    The RIFAN state chairman, Abubakar Aliyu, told reporters in Kano that the rice farms were affected in 10 local government areas of the state.

  • Senator backs APC on nomination fee for female aspirants

    …advocates one female senator per state

     

    Senator representing Adamawa North in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Binta Masi Garba has thrown her weight behind the decision of the leadership of the party to cause women to pay for their nomination form as against the previous idea of giving them a free ticket to contest for party positions.

    Garba who made history as the first woman party chairman in the country in 2014 when she emerged the APC Chairman in Adamawa state also threw her weight behind the clamour by the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari to have one female senator per state and one third of members of the House of Representatives as women.

    Speaking with newsmen after obtaining her nomination and expression of interest form to contest the party primary for Senator, Garba said it was better to have women pay for the nomination form, while the party should bear the cost of campaigning for the woman after the primaries.

    She said “I was one of those who moved that women should be allowed to pay for their form, while the party at the various levels should bear the logistics for the elections. It is not enough to give us free ticket and allow us to bear the logistics because the logistics involved in the real election is too heavy for the women to bear.

    “so, if we give them free ticket and allow them to bear the logistics, we will still be back to the same position. The best way to encourage women is to take over the logistics for the election. When we do that, I am sure that we will encourage many women to seek elective office because they will be confident going into the election.

    “The wife of the President is canvassing that we have at least one female senator per state. I think we should all support that. It is the only way we can achieve 35 percent female representation”, adding that she was humbled by the fact that she was the only female Senator in the entire 19 states of the north.”

    Justifying why the APC in Adamawa settled for Indirect primary as against the direct primary being suggested by the national leadership, Garba said the security situation in the state does not favour the direct option.

    She disclosed that as a result of the activities of insurgents in her senatorial district, four wards in Madagali local government area of the state are still not occupied as residents who flee the area are yet to return home.

    While praying for rancor free primaries, Senator Garba said “what would you prefer? To secure the votes or to secure the lives of the people. We have settled for indirect primaries not because we are afraid of direct primaries, but because of our peculiar situation.

    “We have over 140 members in the State Executive Committee of the party and over 100 of them met and unanimously agreed to the use of direct primary. For the senatorial race, we have 12 aspirants contesting my position and I am not afraid to face them whether in direct or indirect primary. But in the interest of our people and for the security of lives and property, we have adopted indirect primary.

    “This thing is about service to the people. I believe that power belongs to God and He gives it to whomever. If I am destined to go back to the senate, to God be the glory. I was in the House of Representatives three times, representing two states of Kaduna and Adamawa and now in the Senate”.

  • ADC gives automatic ticket to 118 legislators

    Fix Oct. 6 for Presidential primary

     

    Ahead of the 2019 general election, the African Democratic Congress rewarded 118 federal and state legislators who joined the party with automatic ticket, while planning to nominate its Presidential candidate on the 6th of October.

    National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu who disclosed this at the National Executive Committee meeting of the party in Abuja said the party decided to reward the lawmakers for coming out boldly to identify with the fastest growing party in Nigeria (ADC) at a crucial time in the history of the country’s democracy.

    He said that among those to benefit from the automatic ticket are five senators, Eighteen members of the House of Representatives and Ninety five me,bets of state Houses of Assembly.

    The ADC Chairman said, “We need to honour and appreciate them because they abandoned the ruling and bigger parties for a party that is just gathering momentum.

    “The development can be attributed to the fact that the lawmakers and Nigerians at large have agreed that an end must come to anarchy, insecurity, lack of focus and terrorism in Nigeria. And the best platform, right now, is ADC. They are from Adamawa, Ondo, Osun, Imo, Ebonyi, Ogun and Oyo states, among others.”

    Speaking on the party’s preparedness for the 2019 elections, Nwosu said that the primaries for aspirants contesting for the House of Assembly elections would hold on September 29, 2018, while governorship primaries would hold on October 2, 2018.

    He said the the party has also scheduled National Assembly primaries for hold October 4, 2018, and presidential, October 6, 2018, pointing out that “Aspirants have been coming to take forms for the presidential primaries. We will unveil our aspirants very soon”.

    He disclosed that the ADC has launched a campaign against vote buying and electoral corruption under the name: Coalition for Electoral Integrity, saying “We invite the media and the general public to join the party in enlightening the Nigerian electorate that trading their votes for money means mortgaging a very bright future and we must stop that”.

    He described ADC is a vision driven grassroots political party with Role-Modelling Leadership paradigm and is not in the ridiculous ‘Harvest-Bazaar’ money politics and ‘godfatherism’.

    Read Also: ADC to hold State congress to elect leaders in Ogun

    Speaking on the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, Nwosu said the party was confident of victory, pointing out that the party has received letters from labour unions, civil servants and other pressure groups in the state showing great support for the party’s candidates.

    Nwosu said, “We are assuring Osun State workers and the people, who, on their own, have shown great support for ADC’s Governorship candidate, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and his running mate, Rtd Justice Folahanmi Oloyede, based on their excellent public service records, that our candidates will take them away from the grip of insensitive leaders and lead them far away from poverty

    “The people of Osun should be assured that we will always stand by them at all times and will not betray the confidence reposed in us. We are set to hit the ground on September 15, 2018, with our mega rally, as the first step towards taking the state to the path of prosperity.”

  • FG flags off N22.7bn road rehabilitation project in Adamawa

    The Federal Government has flagged off the rehabilitation of the 122 kilometre Mayo Belwa-Jada-Ganye-Toungo road in Adamawa which will cost N22.7 billion.

    Mr Babatunde Fashola, (SAN) the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, disclosed this in a statement by Mr Theodore Ogaziechi, the Director of Information in the ministry.

    Fashola, represented by Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri, the Minister of State 1 in the ministry at the occasion marking the commencement of the project, said the road was due for rehabilitation.

    He said that the road, constructed in 1999, was currently in very deplorable state with several failed sections, potholes, alligator cracks, depressions and washouts at the edges.

    The minister added that the road was also an important economic route linking major farming communities of Mararaba, Jamtari, Jada, Dashen, Ganye, Toungo and neighbouring Taraba.

    Read also: No faction in Cross River APC, says Duke

    He said that the project, expected to be completed in 36 months, would involve the reconstruction of the 112 kilometre road with 7.3 metre carriageway width and 2.75 metre shoulders.

    According to him, the carriageway will be overlaid with 60mm asphalt concrete binder course, 40mm asphalt concrete wearing course with pavement of 200mm thick and 200mm stone base.

    The Governor of Adamawa, Bindow Jubrilla, commended the federal government for the project, adding that it would no doubt, increase investment in rice production and livestock farming in the state.

  • FG inaugurates N22.69bn road project in Adamawa

    The federal government yesterday commenced work on the Mayo-Belwa-Jada-Ganye-Toungo road in Adamawa valued at N22.69 billion.

    The project was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustafa Shehuri in Mayo-Belwa, Adamawa.

    According to Shehuri, work on the 112 kilometres road is in fulfillment of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration’s promises to people of the area.

    “This project is in fulfillment of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to address the infrastructure deficit in the country, which  is aimed at providing the much needed impetus to stimulate  economic growth and the ease of doing business.

    “The 112 kilomtres road which terminates at Toungo, serves as a vital link between Taraba and the Republic of Cameroon, as well as to the Mambilla Hydro Power Plant, the Gashaka-Gumti National park and several agricultural communities.

    “Consequently, due to the strategic nature of the important towns and cities it cuts across, the road attracts high vehicular traffic all year round,” Shehuri said.

    He said the contract was awarded to Messrs Triacta Nigeria ltd., and was expected to be delivered within 36 months.

    In his remarks, Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa commended the federal government for the project which he said would go a long way in transforming the state in various sectors.

     

     

  • 28 Boko Haram suspects held in Adamawa

    About 28 suspected Boko Haram insurgents were arrested yesterday in Dar, Madagali Local Government of Adamawa State, following the murder of four persons in Driff, another town in Madagali.

    Their arrest followed a combined operation by the Army and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

    Coordinator of the State Security Nigerian Hunter’s Association Garba Salvia Tarfa, who addressed reporters yesterday, said the suspects were planning to attack Mbutuku when they were arrested by officials of the CJTF.

    One of his members, Ishaya Jamari, was killed while another, Jiabada John, was shot in the leg.

    Tarfa added that some of the insurgents who attacked Driff went to Dar but were resisted.

    They returned yesterday and were resisted by his men.

    He said: “Last night, leader of the insurgents, Ahmed Buba Barkindo, and his assistant, Sudi Ijaduwa, who operate from Sabon Gari boundary between Madagali and Sambisa, were apprehended after planning to attack more villages in Madagali.

    “Our men got wind of the operation, sent for the Army, and the insurgents were arrested.”

  • I will die in APC, Gov. Bindow insists

    Gov. Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa on Monday said he would remain in APC for the rest of his political career.

    Bindow made the clarification at an extraordinary State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held in Yola.

    He said that his support for the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari would make him not to leave APC to another party.

    “I believe in the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari administration so much that I will remain in the APC for the rest of my political career,” he said.

    Bindow called on all APC members in the state to remain loyal to him and to support the administration for its transformation.

    The governor said that President Buhari meant well for the country, adding that his administration had given optimism to the North east and the state in particular.

    There were rumours from some sections of the media that Bindow was about to defect to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

    The extraordinary SEC meeting was attended by commissioners, permanent secretaries, deputy permanent secretaries, special advisers,and chairmen of local government areas, among critical stakeholders in the state.

  • UN says global conflicts has displace 65 Million People

    …26, 000 killed in the Northeast Nigeria

    The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon on Friday said global conflicts and violence have caused the displacement of 65 million people, just as he informed that over 26,000 people have been killed in Northeast Nigeria.

    Kallon disclosed this in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital at a courtesy visit to Gov. Kashim Shettima to mark World Humanitarian Day (WHD) at the Government House.

    The WHD he said was set aside by the United Nations to express solidarity with people affected by humanitarian crises and pay tribute to workers that helped victims of conflict and violence.

    His words: “This year’s commemoration marks the 15th Anniversary since the attack on the United Nations in Baghdad, Iraq in which 22 of our colleagues were killed.

    “Since that tragedy, which led to this day’s designation as WHD; over 4,000 humanitarians aid workers have been killed, injured, detained or kidnapped.”

    He noted that global conflicts, including Boko Haram insurgency in

    Northeast Nigeria kills an average of 300 people each year, adding that, “Globally, conflicts are forcing record numbers of people from their homes, with the displacement of over 65 million.

    “Children are recruited by armed groups and used to fight, while women are also abused and humiliated.”

    Mr. Kallon regretted that in as much as  humanitarian workers deliver aid , medical supplies and sucor  for those in need, they are however;  either targeted or treated as threats.

    He said in Northeast region, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict that leding to widespread forced displacement, abuse and violations of international humanitarian and human rights law including sexual and gender-based violence on a daily basis.

    Mr. Kallon also condemned the abduction of thousands of women and girls just as children continue to be used on regular basis as so called “suicide” bombers.

    Continuing, he added: “Thousands of families have been forced to flee their villages and communities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

    Read Also: 68.5m people displaced globally – UNHCR

    “Aid and medical workers, who care for people affected by the violence, suffer the consequences of insecurity.”

    Speaking on conflict’s abduction and death tolls, Kallon said: “Three aid workers were killed and three abducted in March this year in Rann; an aid worker was killed in Ngala in May. A member of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was killed in Damasak just last week.”

    While condemning the killings and abduction of aid workers, he urged the parties to the conflict to enable the work of humanitarian workers free from undue threats and loss of lives.

    According to him, “This will facilitate their access to people in need, and in line with International Humanitarian Law”.

    The UN chief called on the immediate and unconditional release of the aid workers, who have been abducted.

    “I call on Nigerian leaders to do everything in their power to protect the people caught up in conflict,” adding that those who are concerned are to join the UN at worldhumanitarianday.org to show that civilians are #NotATarget.

    “Together, we stand with the Government of Nigeria, in solidarity with civilians in conflict, and with the humanitarian workers who risk their lives to help them”, he said.

    Governor Kashim Shettima in a short remark said that 1.5 million people have been displaced due to the Boko Haram crisis in the last nine years.

    Governor Shettima also informed that out of the figure of the displaced people , 164,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have returned to their liberated communities in Mobbar, Dikwa, Gwoza, Ngala, Konduga, Bama, Damboa, Mafa and Askira/Uba councils.

    He however regretted that Abadam and Marte council areas are not secured enough for IDPs return to their communities because they are still vulnerable to Boko elements that were recently pushed by the military drom the Lake Chad Basin.

    Governor Shettima was however optimistic that the situation will be better soon.