Resettlement: Baga community gifts Zulum farm produce

By: Our Reporter

Residents in Baga, a community in Kukawa Local Government Area, have presented gifts of farm produce including onion, watermelon and smoked fish to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to appreciate his bold effort of resettling Baga town over the last 3 years.

According to the residents, the resettlement of Baga town has provided them with financial independence, unlike when they were at the IDP camps where they depended on handouts to survive.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Abba Aji Alhaji Aji said, “Your Excellency, we want to most sincerely express our gratitude to you for your bold initiative to reopen Baga in September, 2020, and resettled us back to our communities.”

“In the past, we lived in IDP camps where we were unable to fend for ourselves and only looked out for handouts every month to survive. But now with your effort, we are in our homes in dignity and honour, we go out to farm, fish, and do all sorts of jobs to earn our livelihood.”

“Your Excellency, these farm produce you see are direct from our farms. We earn as much as we can eat and sell some to cater to our other needs. We came here to present this little gift to appreciate you and all the risks you have taken to ensure we are in our homes.”

“Sir, we would love to have presented much more than this. Had you come here at the peak of our harvest, you would be surprised by what we will present to you.”

In addition to the gifts, the community also presented an award of public service to Governor Zulum for the developmental projects he cited in Baga and all other parts of Borno State.

Governor Zulum expressed immense gratitude to the good people of Baga community for their resilience and commitment to hard work and nation building.

Resettlement: Baga community gifts Zulum farm produce

Zulum inaugurates 48-classroom school for almajirai

. Borno targets 1m jobs as Baga-Chad water clearance nears completion

By: Michael Mike

The governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has inaugurated a new 48-classroom integrated learning High Islamic College in Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area.

The college, which was unveiled on Friday, is specifically designed to offer almajirai a comprehensive second chance at acquiring a balanced education. Its curriculum seamlessly integrates modern formal education with traditional Islamic knowledge and practical vocational skills training.

Speaking at the brief inauguration ceremony, Zulum described the initiative as a critical part of his administration’s policy of empowering the youth to address the problem of illiteracy and the root causes of insecurity facing the state.

The governor stated: “We will introduce Mathematics and English so that the non-formal educational system shall be streamlined with the formal educational system.

“We will ensure they get quality education which can qualify them to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) that allows them admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”

Expressing excitement about the enrollment drive in Baga town, Zulum said: “I’m so happy to note that the enrollment is very good, and I have seen the number of children who came out to receive us. We shall do everything possible to retain them until they complete their studies. Therefore, I want to introduce a meal per day to the students here.”

The Baga school project is the latest in a series of about 20 similar integrated schools established by the Zulum administration across the state. It is part of the efforts towards sustaining the administration’s commitment to transforming the lives of millions of out-of-school children by imparting numeracy and literacy skills to them, which will enable them to contribute to the development of Borno State.

The Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, noted that the state government had provided students with free uniforms, books and other learning materials.

“About 300 uniforms have been provided so far, but in Baga, there is a demand for over 500. We are sending more books, uniforms, dignity kits and bags. The government supplied all these items for free, absolutely free.

“The teachers are community-based and 23 of them are all residents of the Baga community. The principal was, however, promoted from the Local Education Authority,” the commissioner said.

The Governor was accompanied by the member of the House of Representatives, Engr Bukar Talba, member of the House of Assembly, representing Kukawa, Karta Maina Ma’Aji, commissioner of information and Internal Affairs, Prof. Usman Tar, Commissioner of Local Government and Emirates Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele, permanent secretary, Government House, Mustapha Ali Busuguma, Executive Secretary, BOGIS, Engr Adam Bababe, and other senior government officials.

. Borno targets 1m jobs as Baga-Chad water clearance nears completion

As part of the Borno State Government’s job creation and livelihood drive, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Friday inspected the Baga-Chad Republic Water Clearance Project which is in its final phase.

The project focuses on clearing decades of silt and invasive plant species from the river channels linking the town of Baga in Nigeria to the receding Lake Chad and opening transportation routes to the Republic of Chad.

Governor Zulum noted that when the project is completed, over one million jobs in agriculture, fishing, and through the trans-border trade will be created.

“Millions of jobs will be created once this clearance is completed. This is one of our major targets; once this work is completed, we can restore millions of jobs to our people,” he assured.

Governor Zulum also stated that the project would enhance the means of livelihood of the community.

He added: “You have seen people start fishing activities here, and above all, in the next few months, the work will be completed, and thereby, commodities will be conveyed from Baga to the Republic of Chad via waterways.

“It is one of the significant projects, which will enhance the socio-economic activities of the people and ensure they have more access to wealth. Above all, the movement of goods and services will increase. I believe this will be a game changer.”

The governor commended the federal government, the Nigerian military, the Naval Commander, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff “and all other military officers working very hard to ensure that access to Chad is open via the waterways.”

Zulum inaugurates 48-classroom school for almajirai

Zulum Visits Families of 63 Borno Residents Killed by Boko Haram

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has visited Darajamal, a community in Bama, to condole with families of the 63 people killed by Boko Haram insurgents on Friday night.

The victims comprise 5 soldiers and about 58 civilians that were earlier displaced by the insurgents but have been resettled in Darajamal for two months now.

Zulum, visibly moved by the incident, met with community leaders and consoled the bereaved families. He expressed grief and condemned the brutal attack in the strongest terms.

Speaking to newsmen, the governor said, “We are here to commiserate with the people of Darajamal over what happened last night that has claimed the lives of many people. It is very sad. This community was settled a few months ago and they go about their normal activities, but unfortunately, they experienced Boko Haram attack last night. Our visit is to commiserate with them and build their resilience.”

On the casualties, the Governor said, “at this moment we have confirmed that 63 people lost their lives, both civilians and military, although the civilian casualties are more. Close to about 60 civilians and 5 soldiers lost their lives.”

Governor Zulum, while noting the challenges faced in the fight against insecurity, also called for the immediate deployment of the newly trained Forest Guards to complement the military in safeguarding vulnerable communities.

He said, “We have to take note that the numerical strength of the military is not enough to cover everywhere, so far so good, two sets of Forest Guards have been trained, therefore one of the solutions that we need to implement immediately is to deploy the trained Forest Guards to most of the locations that are vulnerable, they will protect the forest and communities.”

Also, the Senator representing Borno Central, Kaka Shehu Lawan, whose constituency Darajamal falls under, has condemned the attack, describing it as a crime against humanity.

He expressed his commitment to supporting Governor Babagana Umara Zulum through legislative backing to restore peace in Borno State.

Zulum Visits Families of 63 Borno Residents Killed by Boko Haram