After 11 years of insurgency and displacement, the Borno State Government has commenced the resettlement of Mallam Fatori with an initial batch of 2,500 households. Other towns such as Abadam, Yau, Yauma Wango, and Foguwa will be resettled in the fullness of time and improvement of security in the Abadam General Area. As a precursor to the mass resettlement, the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, established a committee that supervised the restoration of security and reconstruction of public infrastructure – healthcare, schools, water, market, street lights, and mosques.
Consequently, the Central Primary School at Mallam Fatori, was rehabilitated and reopened with a deep sense of nostagia and high hopes for the future. The Executive Chairman Abadam Local Government Council Dr Engineer Abubakar Aji Mustapha Foguwa assisted by Education Secretary UBEC, Mallam Shettima Kuttari, offilally reopened the Central Primary School, Malam Fatori, Abadam LGA.
The school headmaster, teachers, discipline master and other key officials were on the ground to ensure the commencement of school business, and efficient management of the school facilities. For the first time in over a decade, children dressed in white-and-red uniforms reported to schools, and began their educational jouneys in their ancestral home.
The Safe School policy of the Borno State Government is diligently enforced with support of the 168 Battalion, Divisional Police Office, and CJTF.
Until this reopening of the school, thousands of children were enrolled, in circumstances of displacement, at public schools in Diffa Province of Nigeria; Mobbar LGA and Maiduguri. The high volume of intake in the host communities had further burdened existing infrstructure and amenities. Thus, the figures of out of school children spiralled amongst displaced and refugee communities of Abadam LGA who were hitherto living in IDP and refugee camps.
This reopening of the central primary school at Mallam Fatori is expected to reverse the huge educational defiicts in Abadam LGA.
Pupils and parents thanked Governor Zulum, the Abadam Local Council, the Abadam Resettlement Committee, the armed forces, police, security agencies and civilian volunteers for restoring infrastructure, and livelihood at Abadam Local Government Area.
