As part of efforts to bring normalcy to the North-east, the Federal Government of Nigeria has said it is seeking around $400 million World Bank loan to rebuild the region, where Boko Haram fighters had destroyed infrastructures and social system.

This was declared by the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on North-east Initiative (PCNI), Theophilus Danjuma, through his Deputy, Tijani Tumsah, during a visit by the Security and Peace Building Sub-Committee of the PCNI to the service chiefs in Abuja. Tumsah said the government is committed to kicking off the rebuilding of the region in order to restore normalcy there.

“The federal government is seeking a World Bank loan to rebuild the North-east. These figures will reach up to $400 million. And so we seek collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in a lot of ways, some of the areas, including using your experiences to curb violent extremism, disarmament, mobilization, construction and renovation of schools,” he told This Day.

The militant Islamist group, Boko Haram, which is believed to be fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state, has caused havoc in Nigeria through a series of bombings, assassinations and abductions. Due to this, the Armed Forces must not back down in their efforts to make sure that the insurgency is completely stopped, Tumsah said.

Anita Fatunji