The Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement, led by its Commissioner, Engr. Mustapha Gubio, has began the construction of a two-room apartment for a Maiduguri based aged woman, who is living at a shanty zinc shelter.
Gubio directed the construction after he was notified by Governor Babagana Zulum’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, who followed up till the project began.
The woman, Yakolo Umar, 70 years, was reportedly forced by relatives, to live for over four years at a zinc house on a land she bought many years ago in Jiddari Polo.
Borno’s Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Comrade Bulama Talba had posted photos of the woman on Facebook with calls for humanitarian support.
Journalists, AbdulKareem Haruna of the Humanitarian Times, and Blessing Tunoh of Channels TV published news articles on the woman’s situation.
Human interest media stories differently shared by Talba, Haruna, and Tunoh caught the attention of Malam Isa Gusau.
Gusau invited and hosted the three journalists last week in Maiduguri, and thereafter sent the Governor’s Special Assistant on RRR, Dogo Shettima on a fact finding mission. After he was furnished with facts, Gusau called the attention of Commissioner for RRR, in line with Governor Zulum’s compassion towards vulnerable citizens.
Commissioner Gubio visited the area, and with the woman’s consent, ordered the deployment of building materials and builders to begin construction of two-room apartment for the aged woman.
Engr Gubio has assured of speedy completion of the house which will also be built with a toilet, kitchen and a perimeter fence.
The Commissioner said Governor Zulum has regularly directed his Ministry to pay special attention to vulnerable persons especially aged ones in all humanitarian activities.
