The Nigerian government says it is set to start an initiative that will build houses, schools, hospitals, and clinics, as part of the response to the problems of banditry in the North.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, said that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the commencement of the scheme, called the Fulako initiative in which the Federal Government would also rebuild veterinary empowerment and solar energy facilities damaged by banditry.
Malagi revealed this in his speech at the opening of the 2023 Jamaatu Nasril Islam Central Council meeting held at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre in Minna, Niger State capital, on Monday.
Idris Malagi explained that the Fulako initiative is President Tinubu’s unique humanitarian response to the effect of banditry in communities. He stated that the scheme would be implemented in six northern states ravaged by the banditry scourge.
The states are; Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Benue. According to him, “The initiative is all-encompassing and encapsulated in the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ that seeks to reform the economy, guarantee national security, achieve food security, unlock our natural resources potential, build infrastructure with a focus on health and social investment, as well as accelerate diversification innovation and improve governance delivery.” He said the idea was beyond only rebuilding banditry-affected areas.
The Minister also revealed that N75 billion has been set aside in the 2024 National Budget as a Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme and palliative programme which target one million Nano businesses across Nigeria with a grant of up to N50,000 targeting traders, transporters, and artisans.
The banditry challenge in northwest Nigeria is an ongoing conflict between the country’s government and various gangs and ethnic militias. Starting in 2011, the insecurity remaining from the conflict between the Fulani and Hausa ethnic groups quickly allowed other criminals and terrorists to converge in the region.