Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State said on Thursday that the Nigerian military is poised to re-open the Maiduguri-Magumeri-Gubio and Damasak roads.
Shettima made this known when the Governor of Difa, Republic of Niger, Muhammad Dandano, paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Maiduguri.
The roads have remained closed to vehicular traffic since 2013 when Boko Haram activities in Borno State were at their peak.
HShettima said the state government would commence reconstruction of Damasak in 2017 to enable inhabitants of the area to return to their homes.
Shettima said: “Rebuilding Damasak is our priority.
“The Borno Abadam, Mobar and Magumeri people are rich farmers; they do not need any help if you return them to their communities.
“We commend the Republic of Niger for hosting about 90,000 Internally Displaced Persons.”
Speaking, Dandano said his country had continued to give its maximum support to victims of violence displaced by Boko Haram insurgency.
Dandano said IDPs from Nigeria were at the moment living peacefully and going about their normal socio-economic activities in Difa.
Dandano said: “We are giving the IDPs our maximum support as many of them have taken up farming and other ventures.
“When you go there you will hardly differentiate between an IDP from Nigeria from a Nigerien.
“We have also issued birth certificates to the children, who were born in Niger to enable them to have an identity.”
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