BEVERLY HILLS, CA, November 12, (THEWILL) – The news of the offer of assistance by the Federal Government to the victims of Boko Haram insurgency is exciting to the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, who on Monday described the readiness of Federal Government to provide succour to victims of the insurgency as long awaited by the government and people of Borno State who are mostly affected by the crisis.
A statement by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Communications, Alhaji Isa Umar Gusau, said the news from President Goodluck Jonathan in Warri, Delta State that a committee would soon be set up to work out the form of assistance that would be paid to the victims of the insurgency was one of the greatest news for the people of the state.
The Governor said he cannot hide his excitement over the news, noting that the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency, especially those in Borno State which was worst hit, deserve all forms of support from all tiers of Government, the private sector and philanthropists.
He noted that no material assistance can be adequate for a child that lost one or both parents or for someone that lost a loved one, lamenting that many children have been turned into orphans due to the insurgency with many residents of the state losing their sources of livelihood.
“Although Borno State Government has spent hundreds of millions of naira from its meagre resources to support victims of the insurgency in different parts of the State; the realisation of support, especially for victims by the Federal Government is pleasing. The assistance is very important and will help our brothers and sisters across the state in cushioning their sufferings and accelerating their recovery.
“We will be very glad to see the actualisation of this important promise and our citizens are anxiously looking forward to this support which they also deserve as Nigerians,” Shettima said.
Maintaining that peace has returned to Maiduguri, Bama, Biu and other urban areas that were worse affected by Boko Haram, he commended the efforts of security agencies as well as youth volunteers for their sacrifice in bringing back peace to Borno State.
Shettima said his government will continue its ongoing orientation, civil security training and vocational skills for the civilian JTF.
He disclosed that already 800 of them have been trained and now employed while another 1,000 have just been called to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp for the second batch of the orientation programme.
About the Author
