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Shettima to Senate: There is food security deficit, I am begging you for immediate palliatives

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Shettima to Senate: There is food security deficit, I am begging you for immediate palliatives

Borno state governor, Hon. Kashim Shettima has on Friday informed the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Borno is facing a very serious food security challenge which need to be addressed promptly.

The governor made this known when Sen. Oluremi Tinunu led a Senate special committee on visitation to IDP camps paid a courtesy call to the governor at the Maiduguri government house.

Shettima said: "We have gone through a lot in the past six years and anytime we get exalted visitors like you, we feel highly honored to lay our array of challenges at your doorsteps because you are in position to change the direction of the wind".

"I just returned from Bama and initially I was telling the world that Bama was destroyed by up to 75 percent. I was shocked to see that Bama was destroyed by up to 95 percent. The 10 primary schools in that town, all the 5 secondary schools, a tertiary institution, the hospital, the Army barracks, the Police barracks and every single home in that town was burnt down. In Pulka I saw galaxies of burnt structured and in Gwoza, homes were destroyed up to 40percent".

"I want to urge you to use your exalted offices to canvass for the immediate reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement in the Northest. We have more 49,000 orphans in Maiduguri alone and in Monguno, we have more than 38,000 orphans. We have to make concerted efforts to make sure we take care of these orphans because if we fail to take care of them, they would definitely that care of us in next 15 to 20 years.

"I besieged you to come to our aid. Honestly, l hate to beg no matter my circumstances, no matter our poverty, we carry our poverty with dignity. I don't beg but I am begging you this time, please use your good offices for immediate intervention: for palliatives because there is the time frame within which we will have to do something.

"For now our major challenge has to do with food security deficit, our people are facing real existential threat. Get back to the Senate and impress on your colleagues to come to our aid.

"So far, all the local government headquarters in Borno are under the firm control of the Nigerian government. Borno has gone a lot in the past six years but I want to assure you that we have crossed the rubicon and we are on a path to sustained peace and if there is one community that is eternally grateful to President Buhari is the people of the Northeast", said Shettima.

Earlier on in her speech, the leader of committee Sen. Oluremi Tinubu condoled Gov. Shettima over the demise of his Commissioner for Enviroment, Hon. Waziri Imam and also briefed the him on their mission in the state.

"We want to offer our heartfelt condolences on the passing of one of your commissioners; Commissioner of environment, Hon Waziri Imam and pray that God will console you and bear the fortitude to bear his lost and also prayed that God will give him eternal rest", said Mrs. Tinubu.

"The reason why we are here is that we moved a motion during the children's day celebration on May 26, 2016 with a theme 'stop violence against children'.

"It was there that the senate resolved that part of the prayers we made is that we have to pay a visit to IDP camps and it was resolved that the Chairman Senate Committee health Sen. Lanre Tejuosho who is here with us and also the Chairman Senate Committee of Primary healthcare and communicable diseases Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa should convene together with me and visit the IDP camps to check the state of welfare of the children and to be able to come back to the Senate and report to it, so that we can know what to do", said Mrs. Tinubu.

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