How we will reconstruct Boko Haram-damaged north-eastern Nigeria – Buhari

                         President Muhammadu Buhari with the
chairman of the Presidential Committee on the
North-East, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, during
the inauguration of the Committee at the
Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday
(26/10/16). 7985/26/10/2016/Callistus Ewelike/
BJO/NAN


President Muhammadu Buhari on
Wednesday inaugurated the
Presidential Committee on the
North East Initiative, PCNI, under
the chairmanship of Theophilus
Danjuma, a retired general.
At a brief event at the
Presidential Villa in Abuja, Mr.
Buhari said the committee,
which is to coordinate the
reconstruction of the Boko
Haram-damaged north-east, will
exist for three years.
Read Mr. Buhari’s full speech
at the inauguration below.
Today marks an important
milestone in our desire and
determination to restore
normalcy and stability to the
North Eastern part of our
country.
The devastation to human lives
and livelihoods by the insurgency
in the North East is severe, with
more than an estimated 20,000
persons killed, an estimated 2.4
million persons displaced and
billions of naira worth of
personal and public assets
destroyed.
Many humanitarian intervention
efforts, national and
international, have worked over
time to assist in coping with the
task of bringing succour to the
IDPs in and outside the region,
with most of these efforts aimed
at providing short-term
emergency assistance and relief
to the victims of the violence and
displacement. However, there
remains a need for better
coordination of these efforts
particularly the humanitarian
resettlement and reconstruction
of the region.
Fortunately, the worst of the
insurgency is behind us. This we
owe principally to the valiant
efforts of our military whose
gallant efforts have significantly
degraded the insurgency. With
these successes, many displaced
persons are willing and ready to
return home to pick up their
lives and move forward.
However and sadly so, many
have nothing to return to. They
have lost everything to the
insurgency. In addition, social
and public services are also
absent due to the massive
destruction of public and private
infrastructure. Government is committed to
providing effective coordination and guidance
towards addressing the humanitarian crisis
the resettlement and reconstruction of the
North East region.
To this end, I have established the
Presidential committee on the North East
Initiative (PCNI), under the Chairmanship of
General T.Y. Danjuma (Rtd), GCON, a man of
proven integrity, outstanding patriotism and
dedication.
He will lead this Committee comprising
members who have been carefully chosen
from a wide spectrum of stakeholders. The
Committee will be the apex coordinating body
for all interventions in the region including
those by the public, private, national and
international
development partners. The Committee is
domiciled in the Presidency and is charged
with responsibility for developing the strategy
and implementation framework for rebuilding
the North East region.
The PCNI would not exist in perpetuity or
isolation. Rather, it will exist for a period of 3
years, where after it is envisaged that a long-
term regional development framework or
entity may be established.
Meanwhile, PCNI will be funded through
Federal, State and Local Government
appropriation, as well as funds from the
private sector and international development
partners.
Finally, while having great trust and
confidence in the team of General TY
Danjuma, I urge them to approach their task
with dedication, commitment, accountability
and transparency. The Committee should take
a quick look at the conditions of the IDPs and
take urgent remedial measures to alleviate
these conditions. I also call on all stakeholders
to give the PCNI their maximum support to
enable it to deliver on its mandate.
It is now my pleasure to formally inaugurate
the Presidential Committee on the North East
Initiative.
Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic

of Nigeria.