Gombe criticises FG’s N1.4bn payment for repentant B’Haram camp

Gombe map

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has expressed displeasure over the amount paid by the Federal Government as compensation for taking over the state-owned NYSC orientation camp to host Operation Safe Corridor.

OPSC located in Kwami, Malam Sidi is operated by the defence headquarters for the de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members.

The facility was built by the Ibrahim Dankwambo administration for the mandatory three-week orientation course of corps members posted to the state.

Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of Gombe State, Prof Ibrahim Njodi, while receiving a delegation of senior military officers from the Defence Headquarters on Tuesday, Yahaya said the state was compelled to embark on constructing a new orientation camp in the Boltongo district after the takeover of the Malam Sidi facility.

Yahaya said, “The Federal Government paid us only N1.4bn in compensation, yet we have already spent over N5bn to put up a new NYSC orientation camp. That is almost three times the amount we were given.”

He explained that despite initial scepticism among residents of the host community, the government’s collaboration with security agencies has helped build confidence.“Through constant engagement and well-mapped strategies, we have been able to allay the fears of our citizens, especially in Malam Sidi, where the programme is hosted,” he said. Punch