Over 3,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were successfully resettled into 500 newly constructed mass housing units in the Dara Jamal community of Bama Local Government Area on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
This significant step is part of the Borno State Government’s extensive Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (RRR) initiative.
The IDPs, who had been sheltering at the Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) in Bama town for years, now have permanent homes in Dara Jamal.
Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, currently on official duty abroad, was represented at the commissioning ceremony by Engineer Lawan Abba Wakilbe, who chairs the Committee on the Resettlement of Dara Jamal and also serves as the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Addressing the resettled families, Wakilbe detailed the progress: “His Excellency reconstituted the Bama Reconstruction Committee in 2023 with a renewed mandate—to rebuild Dara Jamal. Today, we are pleased to announce the successful completion of 500 houses in Dara Jamal and the resettlement of over 3,000 displaced persons.”
He noted that Dara Jamal was among the communities severely hit by the Boko Haram insurgency, and its reconstruction signifies the government’s commitment to restoring dignity to displaced citizens.
Wakilbe also highlighted the broader vision: “From 2019 to 2023, we rebuilt and resettled Banki town and initiated work in other communities. The vision of His Excellency is to close all IDP camps and resettle our people in their ancestral homes before the end of 2027.”
He further revealed plans to construct an additional 1,000 temporary shelters in Dara Jamal to accommodate another 3,000 returnees, especially those intending to farm this season.
As part of the comprehensive support package, the Borno State Government provided ₦100,000 to each head of household and an extra ₦25,000 to each wife.
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) also supplied crucial relief materials, including rice, cooking oil, mattresses, mats, and spaghetti.
“We are grateful to the federal government through the National Refugee Commission for the resettlement support packages and to Governor Zulum for the financial palliatives,” Wakilbe stated.
He also extended appreciation to the security agencies—”the Army, Police, Civil Defence, and vigilante groups—for their unwavering commitment and visible presence in Dara Jamal.”
To formalise the process, the resettlement committee, led by Wakilbe, visited key authorities, including the Shehu of Bama, His Royal Highness Alhaji Kyari Ibn Umar El-Kanemi, military commanders, and the Bama Local Government Chairman, to inform them of the progress and plans.
This latest achievement reinforces the Zulum administration’s ongoing commitment to rebuilding and restoring conflict-affected communities across Borno, aiming to make them safe, habitable, and productive once again.
Share Your Views