Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has announced plans to shut down the Bama Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, the largest displacement facility in Borno outside Maiduguri, within the next month.
The announcement marks a major milestone in the state’s efforts to end years of mass displacement caused by insurgency.
The governor made the declaration on Thursday after personally supervising a screening exercise for displaced families at the Government Science Secondary School IDP Camp in Bama, where he spent more than three hours verifying beneficiaries eligible for the state’s resettlement programme.
Zulum said the exercise was aimed at ensuring that only genuine households are captured as the government moves to complete the return of displaced residents to their ancestral communities.
“We are here to examine the remaining displaced people that are living in the IDP camp with a view to ensuring the closure of Bama IDP camp,” the governor stated.
The planned closure represents another significant step in Borno State’s post-insurgency recovery programme, which has seen thousands of displaced persons return to their communities after years of conflict triggered by the activities of the terrorist group Boko Haram.
Over the last seven years, the state government has facilitated the resettlement of residents in several communities across Bama Local Government Area, including Darajamal, Nguro Soye, Goniri, Banki and Abbaram.
Bama remains one of the areas most devastated by the insurgency, with large-scale destruction of infrastructure and prolonged displacement of residents.
According to Zulum, only three communities—Mayanti, Goniri and Bula Kuriye—remain to be fully resettled before the camp can be permanently shut down.
“We have three communities that are left to be resettled, namely, communities from Mayanti, Goniri, and Bula Kuriye.
“By the next one month, the Bama IDP camp, which is the largest camp in the state outside the state capital, will be closed,” he said.
The governor’s visit also featured inspections of major infrastructure projects underway in Bama as part of the administration’s reconstruction and urban renewal agenda.
Among the projects inspected were the construction of a modern shopping complex and the dualisation of the Bama township road.
Zulum praised the quality of work being executed, describing the projects as critical to restoring economic activities and modernising the town after years of devastation.
He recalled that the historic Bama Market was destroyed during insurgent attacks about 15 years ago before being rehabilitated under the administration of Nigeria’s current Vice President, Kashim Shettima.
To further strengthen commercial activities, the state government is constructing a modern shopping complex with 156 shops in front of the market while simultaneously remodelling the entire facility.
“We are trying to provide a befitting shopping mall in front of the market, totaling 156 shops, while also remodeling the market as part of our urban renewal programme,” Zulum said.
He noted that the market redevelopment is designed to stimulate economic growth, improve livelihoods and provide a more conducive environment for businesses and traders.
The governor also disclosed plans to ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity through the dualisation of major roads within Bama, particularly the strategic township road linking Maiduguri, Bama and Gwoza.
Existing roads across the town, he added, would be rehabilitated before the end of his tenure.
The inspection tour extended to High Islamic College and teachers’ quarters in Konduga, underscoring the administration’s continued focus on rebuilding educational infrastructure and improving public services in communities affected by conflict.
Zulum was accompanied by senior government officials, lawmakers and community leaders during the visit.
The move to close the Bama camp is expected to signal a new phase in Borno’s recovery efforts as authorities push to transition displaced families from temporary shelters to permanent community-based resettlement.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
