TheCable

President Goodluck Jonathan has given approval for the rebuilding Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, which was badly damaged in the night of April 14, 2014, when Boko Haram launched an attack that culminated in the abduction of more than 200 students of the school.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, stated this on Thursday after leading a federal government delegation to visit Internally Displaced Persons from Chibok settled in Buzunkure, Kuje area council of the federal capital territory.

Okonjo-Iweala, who said the delegation was visiting to support and encourage the victims, revealed that the president had already approved reconstruction of the school.

“The major focus of the federal government is to ensure that Boko Haram is removed so that people can move back to their communities. Displacement is not a permanent condition; the idea is for you people to be able to go back and not to build you camps in different places,” she said.

“The second thing is about the school, Government Secondary School, Chibok. About two days ago, we had a conversation for a long time; we have been waiting for the right circumstances.

“That school, the president is determined and he promised publicly that he will have the school rebuilt. The plans are ready; they are working with engineers. In no far distance, we will be able to start work in that school; he has already approved that.”

She disclosed that 44 students from the IDPs would added to the 2,400 other students that would relocated from schools in the troubled north-eastern to various unity schools across the country, courtesy of British, American and Norwegians donors, as well as World Bank, African Development Bank, under the safe school initiative.

“If they want to be placed in schools close to this place, we will do it. If they want to be in secondary schools elsewhere, it will be done. It is a voluntary thing and we will try to meet up with their demands,” she said.