Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Thursday, launched the distribution of humanitarian support to more than 4,000 households in the newly resettled town of Malam-Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area.
The beneficiaries are returnees who spent over a decade as refugees in neighbouring Niger Republic after fleeing insurgent attacks. The intervention aims to provide succour and help rebuild lives, restoring confidence in the future.
Each male head of household received ₦20,000, along with 25kg bags of rice and maize and clothing materials, while female heads received ₦20,000 and wrappers.
Governor Zulum explained that the support was prompted by the town’s difficult terrain and limited access to basic amenities, adding that it would significantly ease hardship and accelerate resettlement.
“This is not just about money or food,” the Governor said, “it is about restoring hope and reassuring our people that even in their darkest moments, they are not forgotten.”
During the visit, Governor Zulum also toured irrigation farms cultivated by returnees, where agriculture is fast emerging as a key livelihood. He described the farms as symbols of resilience and optimism, pledging improved farming inputs and continued support to boost productivity and food security.
Beyond Malam-Fatori, similar assistance was extended to more than 6,000 vulnerable persons in Bosso, Niger Republic, in recognition of host communities that sheltered Nigerian refugees for nearly nine years.
The Governor also made an unscheduled late-night tour of Malam-Fatori to observe recovery efforts firsthand. Markets were active, traders were engaged and social life was cautiously returning despite years of displacement.
He stopped to interact with traders and small business owners, assuring them that government support would extend beyond relief to include empowerment, access to capital and sustainable livelihoods.
Additionally, Governor Zulum donated operational vehicles and essential logistics to the 68 Battalion Nigerian Army in Malam-Fatori to improve troop mobility, rapid response and patrol coverage on key routes into the town.
