Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum has reiterated his administration’s 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.
In 5 Years, Zulum has cumulatively accomplished no less than 1,195 developmental projects and capital-intensive programmes and policies that are people-oriented.
Secretary to the state government, Malam Bukar Tijjai, disclosed this in a press release on Tuesday night.
The SSG recalled that over 900 projects, programmes and policies were delivered during Zulum’s First Tenure from May 29, 2019, to May 29, 2023.
He also said 238 projects delivered in the first 365 days of Zulum’s second tenure comprised 220 capital projects and 18 capital-intensive programmes and policies, most of which were completed.
He added, 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.
The release also stated that in the health sector, Zulum delivered 19 projects in 10 LGAs across all the 3 Senatorial Zones, including six new primary healthcare centres (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 of urban and rural roads, including dual carriageways, drainages, and road networks, is underway; procured tracked paver and bulldozer to facilitate direct labour works in the state and ensure judicious utilisation of scarce resources.
On Housing, the government has constructed 2 separate estates, comprising 500 units and 72-unit 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, the 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 the 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.
The SSG highlighted that 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.
Tijjani said that to subsidise metro city transport, Zulum’s administration procured 500 electric tricycles, 300 electric and 10,000 manual bicycles.
The administration 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 fertiliser trucks, assorted agro-chemicals, spray equipment, improved seedlings, livestock feeds and vaccines.
Mr Tijjani noted that the administration also established 225 hectares of solar surface and sprinkler irrigation systems; constructed 2,060 irrigation tube wells/wash boreholes and solar/petrol tube wells; 10 hectares of drip irrigation scheme, established agro logistics hub, livestock investigation/breeding, poultry demonstration and holding centres, and poultry production unit. Zulum also resuscitated about 100 hectares Jaffi and Ngulayi irrigation schemes, among others.
The SSG said, 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.
Zulum also executed 18 capital-intensive programmes and policies on investments in human capital development, education, and public service, providing humanitarian support and social protection to vulnerable populations, as well as the payment of gratuities to retirees.
The SSG states that Borno State Government is poised to support the return of its indigenes’ from Niger, Tchad and Cameroun.
At the same time, it concentrates on the voluntary resettlement of IDPs in their ancestral homes in a dignified manner following the Kampala Convention.
He said Governor Zulum is also working tirelessly to actualise the Borno Model, applauded even by the United Nations for finding Durable and sustainable for Borno Communities in his quest for reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation, thus “Building Borno Back and Better.”
