The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima

  • Boko Haram: Future of recovery looks bright – Shettima

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has said the future of recovery of the internally displaced People (IDP) suffered by the Boko Haram crisis looks bright with the scale up of humanitarian activities both by the Federal, State Government and the strategic partners.

    “The future of reconstruction, Resettlement and Rehabilitation is bright as humanitarian activities are been scaled up by both government at all levels and strategic partners like FAO as peace is gradually returning to the troubled communities,” Shettima said.

    Shettima who disclosed this at the lunching  of the 2018 rainy season distribution of agricultural seedlings to farmers displaced by the insurgency and other people living in the host communities at the Farm Centre in Maiduguri.

    Over 1.1 million IDPs including returnees farmers  and members of the host communities in the Boko Haram troubled northeast Nigeria will benefit from the 2018 rainy season input distribution of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

    FAO support apart from the distribution of quality agricultural kits comprising of seedlings such as millet, sorghum, cowpea, maize, vegetables and fertilizer will also carry out critical capacity building of the farmers.

    Read Also:Minister raises the alarm over Boko Haram, high profile inmates in Kuje prison

    Represented by his deputy Dr. Mamman Durkwa at the event commended FAO for their effort in tackling food security due to the strategic intervention on IDPs in the region.

    The governor charged them not to relent in their collective effort to salvage the situation in the overall interest of Borno State and the country at large.

    He urged the benefiting farmers to make good use of the opportunity and rebuild their livelihood as they return to their communities.

    Earlier in his address, the FAO Country Representative in Nigeria Mr. Suffyan Koroma said Agriculture is the backbone of northeastern Nigeria therefore restoring normalcy in the region requires a restoration of agricultural livelihoods.

    Mr. Koroma who was represented by the Program Officer and Head of Program FAO Sub-office Maiduguri, Mr. Michael Oyat noted that insurgency in northeastern Nigeria has led to high levels of displacement.

    “Of all internally displaced people, 80 percent identified agriculture as the main sources of livelihoods before the crisis. A restoration of livelihoods, particularly in agriculture will be central for a full recovery in the region.

    “FAO’s overall role in northeastern Nigeria is simple –enhance food security through agricultural support, particularly to those most affected and vulnerable to shocks both in the external or the local contexts.

    “As the main planting season, the rainy season is a major opportunity to strengthen livelihoods in the region. For farmers who are able to farm this season, FAO’s programme will link them to agricultural inputs that will improve their incomes and food insecurity,” Mr. Koroma explained.

    Some of the farmers who spoke to our correspondent after collecting their inputs expressed delight over the intervention by FAO, describing it as timely.

    Ya Bintu, 50 year old mother of seven children from Muna Garrage who was displaced from Bama said, she has already gotten a farm and that the intervention is coming when the rains just set in.

    Another beneficiary Musa Ibrahim praised FAO, adding that IDPs now have no excuse to sit at the camps and continue to beg for food.

    “This is an opportunity for us to stop depending on the government. We should take the advantage of what FAO has given us and go back to farm and feed ourselves. Anybody that prefers to stay at the camp to wait for government now has no excuse because, the opportunity has come,” Musa advised.

  • Borno humanitarian response: Health minister commends security agencies

    Borno humanitarian response: Health minister commends security agencies

    Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole has praised the efforts the security agencies put in place for the success of emergency response to the humanitarian crisis in the state.

    According to the minister, the health and humanitarian emergency response in Borno state was only possible in the hard reach areas of the state due to the gallant efforts put into liberating the communities hitherto in the hands of the insurgents.

    The minister who spoke at the presentation of the midterm review of Health and Nutrition Emergency Response Project in Borno State at the Multi-purpose Conference Hall of the Government House Maiduguri said the military and other security agencies deserve commendation for making sure health personale get access to the hard to reach areas.

    “The military and other security agencies have made this work possible. Particular commendation must to given to our security agencies for their efforts in liberating those communities in the hands of the insurgents which has made it possible for the health workers and other humanitarian intervention easier for us,” the minister said.

    While setting the agenda for the meeting, the Prof. Adewale explained that Malaria, Diarhoea diseases, Upper Respiratory Tract infections were the three common diseases that were identified during the assessment period.

    He noted that the Federal Ministery of Health through the FMOH Humanitarian Support Team will continue to:

    • To Provide Coordination and Support to the State to manage the emergency response initiative.

    • To strengthen the state`s capacity to undertake integrated supportive supervision in health facilities and communities;

    • To strengthen the logistics and supply chain for medicines and other health commodities;

    • Assist and support the strengthening of the health management information system;

    • To work with SMOH and WHO to rebuild the integrated disease surveillance and response system;

    • To administer and manage the team of health personnel contracted to support with the delivery of health services in the State.

    • Ensure cooperation with all local and international stakeholders under a unified command structure.

    • To perform oversight responsibility for the control and coordination of the field activities, working in consultation with the SMOH.

    • To articulate reports and areas of further intervention and resource mobilization for the consideration of the management of the Federal Ministry.

    Speaking on the objectives of the MTR meeting, the minister informed that the meeting will comparatively analyse the HNER key performance indicators which would form the basis of assessment of the project, adding that , “ we intend to assess and achieve the following parameters:-

    The Level of implementation Common ailments noted during course of implementation The Efficacy of this intervention to the project goals Identification and addressing of project bottlenecks Take necessary steps to improve on project implementation going forward”.

    In his address, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima commended the joint ministries committee on humanitarian response in the state and the level of supervision put in the program.

    His words: “Our gathering today, couldn’t have been possible without the efficient role played by the joint team from the Federal Ministry of Health and our own State Ministry of Health and the various implementing teams who defied all odds to go to Local Government Areas in the country side to render nutritional intervention to the most vulnerable communities liberated by our gallant armed forces. Judging from favorable health indices now being reported across the state particularly, the marked improvements in status of Nutrition, it is clear that our collaborative efforts are paying off in the Health sector. I salute the courage and sacrifices of our field men and women who move round the State for the sake of humanity.

    “I understand that today’s Mid-Term Review Meeting is to assess implementation of the HEALTH AND NUTRITION EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECT launched earlier on. This is a positive step. As someone from the private sector, I can say that Review and supervision are twin bridges to success in implementing any initiative. In fact, lack of adequate supervision is mostly responsible for failure of most programmes in the public sector.I will therefore urge stakeholders to use today’s Mid-Term Review to, in their usual meaningful ways, recommend ways to strength supervision and implementation of the project. Our goal should be how to increase beneficiaries without compromising standards,” Gov. Shettima said.

    Kashim also took time to remind the Federal Government on some of the promises made to Borno state which include the promises for the establishment of a Radio Diagnostic Centre at the State Specialist Hospital; the establishment of a Burns Centre at Umaru Shehu Ultra-Modern Hospital and the Completion of the Drugs Store under Construction at Molai, stressing that those promises if fulfilled will bring a lot of positive impact on the health of Borno people.

    Goodwill message were presented by the WHO, UNICEF, the Representative of the minister of State Budget and Economic Planning among others.

  • Shettima warns new LG caretaker chairmen over link with Boko Haram

    Shettima warns new LG caretaker chairmen over link with Boko Haram

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has warned the newly appointed 27 Local Government over any suspicious connection or link with Boko Haram.

    The governor at the swearing ceremony of the chairmen on Thursday in Maiduguri noted that he will hands off and ensure that anyone one caught in such act will face prosecution.

    Shettima also announced that any of the chairmen who doesn’t desire to relocate from Maiduguri to his local government area was free to reject his appointment so he could be replaced.

    “Indeed, any of you who is not ready to relocate from Maiduguri to live, work and worship with your people in your local councils, is best advised not to accept this mandate. For the avoidance of any doubt, we are hereby declaring a zero tolerance for the services any Chairman that is not ready for permanent residency in his local government area throughout the period of his tenure,” Shettima warned.

    The Nation finding reveal that the governor’s warning is apparently hinged on recent instances involving a caretaker chairman and Vice Chairmen of two local government areas arrested by the military over allegations of links with the Boko Haram insurgents.

    His words: “There is an important issue we must not ignore or pretend about. It is no longer news to all of us, that within the last six months, we had cases were one caretaker chairman and two Vice Chairmen were arrested by the military on security related matters. Let me say it very loud and very clear that any caretaker chairman who dares to bring shame on this administration will be entirely on his own.

    “The Borno State Government will not only disown such a person but we will infact take legal steps towards making  such a person unfit to hold any public office associated with Borno State.

    “I always recognize the fact that over 90 percent of the people of Borno State are vehemently opposed to the activities of Boko Haram. There is no better evidence that the manner in which thousands of parents have donated their youthful sons and daughters to fighting Boko Haram with many of paying the supreme price.

    “As I have often said, whoever shows any form of support or empathy for Boko Haram insurgents is an enemy of Borno people and an enemy of humanity. You must in all your conducts do nothing to suggest that you treat matters affecting the insurgency and other forms insecurity with any basis of suspicion or levity,” Shettima charged.

    He also directed all the local government chairmen to give full support to the military and other security agencies so as to defeat the Boko Haram insurgents,

    “As Governor of Borno State, I direct you to extend full, unconditional and ceaseless support to the armed forces and other security agencies as they continue their patriotic duty of prosecuting the war against terror so that everlasting peace and stability shall return to our dear State”, the Governor said.

    The State Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs Zanna Bukar said the 27 caretaker chairmen were appointed after thorough backgrounds check.

    He also noted that their appointments were based on competence and loyalty to the administration and the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state.

    The Nation recalled that the six months tenure of the 27 local governments in Borno expired one month ago with some of them reappointed.

     

  • Sexual assault: Shettima seeks adequate security at IDPs camps

    Sexual assault: Shettima seeks adequate security at IDPs camps

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has reveal plans to enlist the services of undercover female police officers, Department of State Security and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons,(NAPTIP)  the National Drug Law  Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to uncover the veracity of report of sexual abuse on women in IDPs’ camps in the state.

    Shettima stated this at a courtesy call on him by a delegation from the National University Commission who are  on tour of  ongoing infrastructure at the proposed Borno State University held at the Government  House in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

    The governor’s concern is coming at the wake of reports by the Human Rights Watch ‎released days ago accusing security officials of sexually harassing some female IDPs some of whom are allegedly pregnant.

    His words:  ‎”Today, as Governor of Borno State, there is no issue that gives me headache like the unfortunate bye-products of IDP camps. Our citizens were violently sent out of their houses and communities, it is their fundamental rights to be provided alternative accommodation with their food and health cater for. Sadly and very sadly indeed, the IDP camps have become avenues that horrible stories of sexual slavery, prostitution rings, drug peddling and other social vices are emanating from.

    “Only yesterday (Monday) there was a report by a Human Rights group alleging incidences of sexual abuses by some Federal and State workers in some of the IDP camps. This is highly condemnable. Apart from investigating these claims and arresting culprits which is absolutely necessary, I am going to write letters to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and may be the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, requesting all of them to deploy female and male undercover detectives to all our camps to permanently spy on anyone involved in sexual harassment, any form of prostitution, drugs trafficking, possible child trafficking and even the allegations of diversion of food items meant for IDP’s.

    “I would want these detectives to report their findings to their security establishments and whoever is found wanting should be picked up without notifying me so long as there is verifiable evidence to prosecute him or her,” Shettima said.

    Shettima who also appreciates that the present condition of the displaced people especially women can lead them to indulging in illicit activities however vowed that sanity must be injected in the system despite the circumstances.

    He said: “Ladies and gentlemen, I am tired of applying the element of persuasion in handling the issues of IDP’s, we need to wield the big stick. The problem with managing the IDP camp is that you are dealing with a population of two or more local government areas in one location and you cannot imprison them by restricting or stopping them from leaving the IDP camp in the day time.

    “When a female IDP leaves the camp in the morning, you cannot be in control of where she goes and who she sees. If she leaves the camp and returns the following day, she may claim to have visited a family member and little can be done. I strongly believe there are cases of sexual harassment but some of the women may be consenting to sexual advances largely due to extreme poverty and loss of value system.

    “We have to instill sanity into the IDP camps and I hope we will not end up having human rights activists telling us we cannot deploy undercover detectives into IDP camps due to one form of rights violation or the other. Desperate situations call for desperate measures. Sexual harassment of female IDPs is a desperate situation.

    “None of us here is beyond becoming an IDP if Allah decrees and none of us would fold arms if his or her daughter is in position to be sexually harassed, so we must act now” , Gov. Shettima vows

    Shettima regretted how Boko Haram has painted Borno negatively as oppose to the peaceful nature of the people.

    “The Borno story that has been painted very badly by the Boko Haram. We are even tired of counting the number of deaths, number of those of injured, value of private institutions and private property destroyed and the huge number of persons internally displaced”,  the Governor said.

  • Chibok girls release confirms Buhari’s sincerity to fight insurgency 

    Chibok girls release confirms Buhari’s sincerity to fight insurgency 

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has said he never doubted the sincerity of President Mohammadu Buhari on the negotiation talks of the release of the Chibok girls.

    According to a statement emailed to journalists by Malam Isa Gusau, the Special Adviser to Governor Shettima on Communication and Strategy said  the release of the 21 girls Thursday should be a signal to Nigerians on the sincerity the president on the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents and efforts to rescuing the abducted girls which has been on since the inception of the AAPC led administration of President Mohammadu Buhari.

    The statement reads: “‎As people of Borno State troubled by the deaths and destructions of Boko Haram insurgency, one of our major sources of strength since May 29, 2015, has been the undiluted sincerity we saw in President Muhammadu Buhari based on his administration’s absolutely genuine commitment towards recovering our schoolgirls, thousands of other women and children held in captivity as well as ending the insurgency in order to secure the lives of our citizens and make way for reconstruction, resettlement and other development programs and projects.

    “We had faith in Buhari from the very day he took off as President. The steps he kept on taking in dealing with the insurgency continuously proved his sincerity. If any Nigerian or members of the international community had doubts about the sincerity and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari ‎to the rescue of our precious daughters abducted by Boko Haram insurgents at Government Secondary School, Chibok on April 14, 2014, the rescue of all other abducted Nigerians and very importantly, his sincerity in working towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency, such doubts must by now be laid to rest.

    “This of course doesn’t mean that the rescue efforts are over. I am certain that the recovery of our 21 precious daughters from insurgency only strengthens the resolve of the Buhari administration to continue to work tirelessly until all the girls and all Nigerians abducted are freed and until the Boko Haram insurgency is brought to an end to guarantee public safety.

    “I must hasten to strongly commend the Nigerian Armed Forces and all those who worked towards the recovery of these 21 daughters of Borno State. We shall forever be grateful to those who contributed in any form towards this major feat that renews our hope to recover all our girls alive and in good health.

    “On our part, the Borno State Government has long put in place a rehabilitation process that would work in partnership with the Federal Government and interested humanitarian partners to ensure proper medical evaluation, trauma management and other key steps for our daughters while we are very much ready to get them into the best schools of their choices like we have since done for the 56 girls who escaped abduction, all of whom are schooling in two International schools in the North Central and Northwest with their schools kept away from the public to ensure their privacy so as not to create publicity that could jeopardize their education,” the statement said.