Rebuilding the N/East: Making case for Borno State

Any gesture at rebuilding the devastated North-Eastern Nigeria with the aim of restoring and improving on the infrastructural and socioeconomic life of the zone would always be welcome within and outside the country, especially amongst well-meaning people. This is why recent pledges of funding and technical contributions recently made by the World Bank and the German government respectively was received as a commendable proactive step toward the rebuilding of North-East from the degradation by the Boko Haram insurgency. While the World Bank pledged rehabilitation funding to the tune of $2.1 billion (N393.9 billion) the German government on its part pledged to supply technical expertise to rebuild destroyed infrastructure. Both pledges aim at reducing the financial burden on the federal government which itself had earlier put in a N5 billion lifeline to add to the fund being raised by the “Theophilus Danjuma led fund raising committee” for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the zone.

Heartwarming and timely as these gestures are, there need be a concerted, determined synergy on the part of the leadership and all stakeholders who may be called upon and charged with the burden of developing a sustainable and proven strategic plan for the implementation of the various financial and technical supports already in the kitty and others being envisaged. The ultimate goal of any intervention effort to address the parlous socio-economic and political life of the North-East must be the attainment of a true and just reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation for the people of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, which are states that make up the geo-political zone. That is why I find it instructive what President Muhammadu Buhari said in the United States of America, at a meeting with representatives of the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO); and which he reiterated during Ban Ki Moon’s recent visit to Nigeria, that apart from rebuilding the zone “in terms of infrastructure, priority must also be given to the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), who now number over 1.5million”.

Even though different opinions exist regarding the immediate and remote cause of Boko Haram, I hold the view that the insurgency ravaging the North-East is a product of long years of neglect and poor investment by successive leaderships (at the various tiers of government)in human and social development. To worsen this record, the economy of the geo-political area since the Boko Haram insurgency surfaced in 2009 has become distressed and heavily destroyed as investors, businessmen, managers, entrepreneurs and employees fled the area in their droves

Be that as it may, it is important to stress that while pursuing the rebuilding of the entire north-east, Borno state should get the bigger bite in the programme schedule underway for implementation. The suggestion for Borno to be the priority state is premised on the understanding that even-though the six states which make up the region currently face the common problems of insurgency, insecurity, youth unemployment, ravaged infrastructure and social deprivation, the fact remains that the degree of damage in each of them varies. Under the present circumstance, Borno undeniably is worst hit. Almost all the surviving Primary and Secondary schools, including the uncompleted ones have become shelters for IDPs; hence leading to disruption in both teaching and learning in the last four years. Current renewed aggression by the insurgents clearly attests to this view; with increased destruction of available infrastructure, property and social life, more deaths in hundreds of thousands have been recorded over and above her sister states. As it stands now, the state is functioning more or less on ground zero.

With increasing weekly displaced number of persons and highest number of abduction cases; all of which have destroyed family ties and happiness, Maiduguri alone has over 42 camps where over 1.5 million displaced persons are accommodated. This is aside several unidentified others being rescued and given care in the palaces and private homes of traditional rulers and some accomplished businessmen and public servants.

The fact also remains that over threequarter of the Local Governments in Borno came under severe insurgenncy attacks with most of the prominent towns and communities such as Baga, Bama, Damboa, Gwoza, Marte, Monguno, Ngala; to mention a few, were mercilessly ravaged; making the state the worst hit. As of today, out of the 27 Local Governments Areas in Borno, 22 have been dismembered by the rioting insurgents with nearly all their known infrastructure brought to total collapse Therefore, the state deserves a passionate, sympathetic, priority attention when the rebuilding programme begins!

While some commentators already are preoccupied with considerations for security to top the agenda in the rebuilding model, in my opinion, provision of access to basic need of life such as food, shelter, education, water, good roads, provision and supply of electricity to engage in daily entrepreneurial business, would fasttrack the quick realization of that much needed security. I believe that provision and availability of improved social services aimed at poverty reduction is a wedge against rebellion or insecurity. We should not forget that thousands of lives of men, women and children have been lost and that millions of persons are already displaced and separated from their loved ones. Many are now refugees in various camps in Nigeria and the neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Both security experts and implementers of programmes and projects will explore the option of harmonious working relations to deliver effectively and efficiently for the good of all.

I believe it will take a long time for the North-East to recover from the damage that has been done to her, particularly Borno state. Nevertheless, with a carefully structured rebuilding programme, put in the hand of people of credible and accountable character, the zone will rise and shine within the shortest unimaginable time; as end to the insurgency is undoubtedly near, especially with the three months target given to the armed forces by the President.