By Peter Omopo
Vice President Kashim Shettima has commissioned the Tudun Biri Resettlement Scheme in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, marking the fulfilment of a pledge by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rebuild the community nearly two years after it was affected by a military drone incident.
The resettlement project comprises 133 completed housing units, educational facilities and other modern infrastructure. It was executed under the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict (RSPIC), a Federal Government initiative designed to support communities affected by humanitarian crises and internal displacement.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Friday, Shettima said the project reflected the Tinubu administration’s commitment to people-centred governance, compassion and justice. He recalled visiting Tudun Biri in December 2023, shortly after the incident, when he conveyed President Tinubu’s directive for reconstruction and resettlement to begin, and his return to the community in July 2024 for the project’s groundbreaking.
According to the Vice President, the scheme underscores the administration’s belief that governance must serve citizens, heal divisions and strengthen national stability.
“The commissioning of the Tudun Biri Resettlement Scheme is a demonstration of our collective belief that fairness is the glue that holds a nation together, and that compassion is not a weakness of the state, but its moral strength,” Shettima said.
He added that the project was a vehicle of hope for families whose lives were disrupted, assuring that affected citizens would not be forgotten. The Vice President noted that similar resettlement and recovery initiatives were ongoing in Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Katsina and Benue states, as part of a broader commitment to inclusive recovery.
Shettima also commended Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, for fostering what he described as a constructive partnership and inclusive approach to governance, stressing that the success of such interventions depended on collaboration between the Federal Government, state authorities, host communities and development partners.
In his remarks, Governor Sani expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his compassion and decisive intervention, while also praising the Vice President for his leadership and oversight in supervising the project.
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, described the commissioning as a major milestone in restoring dignity, stability and opportunity to communities affected by humanitarian crises. She said the intervention aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises people-centred recovery, national security and inclusive development.
Umar explained that although the original plan provided for 143 housing units, 10 units were converted into a school facility to address the educational needs of children in the settlement, resulting in 133 completed housing units alongside educational infrastructure.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Aisha Haruna and Mr Solomon John expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their efforts to bring relief and renewed hope to Tudun Biri and other communities affected by humanitarian challenges across the country.
