The representative of Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume, on Friday, lamented that the Federal Government had yet to rebuild the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, which was destroyed seven years ago by Boko Haram insurgents.
Ndume said the Federal Government had adopted the Borno State-owned college, following the abduction of 276 schoolgirls by the terrorists in 2014.
Ndume, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, also noted with concern that parents of the abducted schoolgirls were still living in pain without comfort since the unfortunate incident.
He said, “It is seven years since the Chibok girls were abducted. Up till today, 112 of them are not accounted for. We hear stories, but I am glad that the government issued a statement that they have not forgotten and that they are following the case. However, I want to call on the government to be giving the parents and members of the public updates, either on a monthly or quarterly basis, on the efforts that they are making so that we will know what is going on. The government should identify the parents of the remaining 112 missing girls so that, through the state government or whatever channel, the government can be in touch with them and also assist them psychologically. Also, the Federal Government, up till now, seven years after the school was destroyed, has not rebuilt it. The Federal Government took over and the Safe School Initiative, where money was set aside – big money – nobody is talking about that again. The Federal Government has not fulfilled its promise. In fact, the Borno State Government is now struggling to take back the school from the Federal Government in order to rebuild it. The road project has been in the Federal Government’s budget since I came to the National Assembly, 18 years now. The Federal Government could not finish it and that road is critical access. This is because if there is no accessibility, the military or the security agencies cannot be effective. So, these are the things we are calling on the Federal Government to look into as a matter of urgency or national importance.”