Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State continued his commitment towards transforming the state in the first year of his second tenure of office.
He consolidated on democratic gains by delivering 238 additional projects in the First Year of his Second Tenure, from May 29, 2023 to May 29, 2024.
According to a statement by Hon Bukar Tijani,
Secretary to the Borno State Government, Zulum In 5 Years has cumulatively accomplished no less than 1,195 developmental projects and capital-intensive programmes and policies that are people oriented.
It would be recalled that over 900 projects, programmes and policies were delivered during Zulum’s First Tenure [May 29, 2019 to May 29, 2023].
The 238 projects delivered in the first 365 days of his Second Tenure comprise of 220 capital projects and 18 capital-intensive programmes and policies, most of which were completed.
The achievements included 54 projects on Education, across 23 Local Government Areas, including 36 new Mega and Regular Senior/Junior Secondary and Primary Schools, High Islamic College and Integrated Tsangaya schools, including admin blocks, teachers’ quarters, laboratories, sporting facilities, solar systems, new ICT laboratories and 88 science laboratories in 22 schools, 58 vehicles for monitoring and evaluation of schools, 6,529 furniture sets for schools and education offices, among others.
In the Health sector, Zulum delivered 19 projects in 10 LGAs across all the 3 Senatorial Zones, including 6 new primary healthcare centers (PHCs), new General Hospital, 2 new Eye and Dental Hospitals, block of classrooms at a Nursing School, construction of 2 new Colleges of Nursing, the rehabilitation of 3 General Hospitals, and state-wide initiatives [solar systems in 22 PHCs and a General Hospital, supply of medical equipment, essential drugs, and consumables, etc]. Works and Housing got 20 projects across 6 LGAs, transforming urban and rural landscapes.
On Works, Zulum constructed Borno’s second flyover and an underpass pedestrian bridge, while the third flyover is under construction.
The construction of 32.77km urban and rural roads, including dual carriage ways, drainages, and road networks are under way, procured tracked paver, bulldozer to facilitate direct labour works in the state and ensure judicious utilisation of scarce resources.
On Housing, government has constructed 2 separate estates, comprising of 500-units; and 72-units 3-bedroom flats with road networks delivered for civil servants and residents.
On Security, Zulum supported the post-insurgency operations with 94 brand new Hilux, 62 Toyota Land Cruiser (Samsara) patrol vehicles, assorted security gadgets, equipment and logistics; procured 300 new motorcycles; repaired/upgraded 49 vehicles; and built a new office complex with support facilities for the Borno State Security Trust Fund to support security architecture and operations.
On Vocational and Entrepreneurship skills, government has completed and equipped 5 vocational institutes across Borno’s 3 Senatorial Zones in 10 LGAs, it has also constructed 3 ICT centres, trained 832 youths and empowered them with start-up kits, as well as training of 200 youths as agricultural extension workers and 400 farming households.
On Trade, Investment and Tourism 4 capital-intensive projects in 3 LGAs, including the complete reconstruction and rehabilitation of Maiduguri Monday market, which was razed by fire in February 2023 were carried out. He also constructed 176 shops [8-blocks of 22 open shops] with solar power at new Tashan Bama market [Phase II], established a new Agro Logistics Hub; rehabilitated the Gamboru Ngala cattle market; and remodelled the Borno State Hotel to boost revenue and tourism.
There were also 7 projects on Transportation and Energy in 4 LGAs, to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal, comprising 150 vehicles [50 buses and 100 E-Star hatchback electric cars.
To subsidise metro city transport, the administration procured 500 electric tricycles, 300 electric and 10,000 manual bicycles.
He also procured and installed electricity transformers [across 14 locations] and 7,675 solar streetlights for roads in 9 locations in 2 LGAs. To support and boost economic livelihoods, Zulum’s government purchased five J5 vehicles, 30 tricycles and 10 Golf Wagon for Baga’s resettled communities.
In Agriculture, Zulum initiated 29 new projects and resuscitated moribund ones in 13 LGAs, including the procurement and distribution of 2 swamp buggies for waterway desilting, typer grass clearing, hundreds of water pumps, about 2,000 assorted irrigation/hand pumps and tube wells, irrigation farm inputs, hundreds of assorted fertilizer trucks, assorted agro-chemicals, spray equipment, improved seedlings, livestock feeds and vaccines],
Improvement of 225 hectares solar surface and sprinkler irrigation systems; 2,060 irrigation tube wells/wash boreholes and solar/petrol tube wells; 10 hectares drip irrigation scheme, agro logistics hub, livestock investigation/breeding, poultry demonstration and holding centres, and poultry production unit. He also resuscitated about 100 hectares Jaffi and Ngulayi irrigation schemes, among others.
Governor Zulum has continuously ensured food and nutrition security for the whole Borno population while supporting farmers to return to farming as part of livelihood restoration
Other sectoral achievements include 26 new, rehabilitated and upgraded projects in the Urban and Rural Water Supply sectors; 6 new and rehabilitated Rural and Urban Electrification projects; 35 newly completed and rehabilitated projects on Reconstruction, Resettlement and Civil Authority Restoration; and 8 new and ongoing projects on the Environment.
18 capital-intensive programmes and policies executed on investments in human capital development, Education and Public Service, providing Humanitarian Support and Social Protection to vulnerable population, as well as the payment of gratuity to retirees.
Government is poised to support the return of its indigenes’ from Niger, Tchad and Cameroun. while it concentrate the voluntary resettlement of IDPs in their ancestral homes in a dignified manner following the Kampala Convention.
Governor Zulum is also working tirelessly to actualize the Borno Model, applauded even by the United Nations to find Durable and sustainable for Borno Communities in his quest for reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation thus “Building Borno Back and Better”
