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ZULUM: 238 Projects in 365 Days; Another Year of Remarkable Progress in Borno’s Project Landscape

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ZULUM: 238 Projects in 365 Days; Another Year of Remarkable Progress in Borno’s Project Landscape

By Abdul Kareem

There is no doubt that Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state has set a new standard for leadership and progress in Nigeria. In just the past year, Governor Zulum has overseen a remarkable transformation in Borno, personally spearheading 238 projects across 13 sectors. These projects have left a lasting impact on the state, demonstrating a vision of lasting, sustainable, and community-focused development.

Building upon the success of 957 projects completed during his first term in office, Zulum, a Professor of Irrigation Engineering, has been able to lay a solid foundation for the fast and remarkable progress being witnessed in his second term.

From enhancing security measures to revolutionizing the education sector, Governor Zulum’s commitment to service delivery and good governance shines through in every initiative undertaken even as he continues to raise the bar of good governance in Nigeria.

Governor Zulum’s unwavering dedication to restoring normalcy in Borno State after years of insurgency has been commendable. Through strategic partnerships with security outfits and the provision of essential resources such as patrol vehicles and motorcycles, the administration has boosted the morale of troops and taken significant strides towards ending the insurgency that has plagued the state.

It is worth noting that under Governor Zulum’s leadership in the last one year, the Borno State Government has acquired an additional 94 new Hilux Patrol Vehicles and 62 Toyota Land Cruiser Samsara, supplementing the existing fleet of 1400 Patrol Vehicles earlier procured for the security in the state. This strategic procurement aims to bolster surveillance efforts and address the security challenges effectively. Additionally, the administration has also purchased 300 new motorcycles to support security patrol operations, particularly in hard-to-reach terrains.

In the education sector, Governor Zulum’s administration has embarked on a comprehensive revival plan, focusing on reconstructing schools destroyed by terrorists, establishing new mega-size schools, and recruiting thousands of teachers to ensure quality education for all. By introducing incentives to attract school-age enrolment and reducing the number of out-of-school children, Governor Zulum is paving the way for a brighter future for the youth of Borno State.

According to the commissioner of education, Abba Wakilbe, “Under the visionary leadership of Professor Babagana Zulum, the government has revolutionized the education sector by constructing 30 state-of-the-art mega schools with 60, 40, 30, and 20 classrooms each, equipped with laboratories, staff rooms, ICT centers, water and sports facilities, and solar power supply. Additionally, 16 new senior secondary schools have been established in Bulumkutu, 777, 1000 Housing Estates, Goidamgari, Soye in Bama, Gasi in Shani, Ngoshe in Gwoza, Malakaleri in Mafa, and Kwayabura in Hawul local government areas. Furthermore, five High Islamic colleges are under construction in Gajiram, Gajiganna, Baga, Gubio, and Damasak, while new junior and secondary schools have been founded in Malamkureri in MMC, Dikwa Gubio, Yerimari in Jere, and Girjan in Damboa. The establishment of two-story mega schools in Dala Lawanti, Bulakutiki, Dusuman Kaleri, Miringa, Uba, and Asking signifies a remarkable transformation in our education landscape.”

The education commissioner also added that “During the first year of Governor Zulum’s second term, 88 science laboratories were constructed and equipped in 22 secondary schools, and 4,000 additional teachers were hired for public secondary and primary schools across the state. In addition, the Zulum-led government in Borno State recruited education secretaries for the 27 local government education authorities (LGEAs), provided 13 Toyota vehicles and golf wagons to each education secretary for monitoring and supervision, increased salaries, and allocated monthly running costs.

To address the impact of the long-standing Boko Haram insurgency on school enrollment, the Borno State government implemented various incentives to attract displaced school-age children, including free uniforms, instructional materials, bicycles, and a daily meal. This initiative significantly reduced the number of out-of-school children from over 2 million to less than 700,000, with ongoing efforts to further decrease this number.

Zarah Mohammed, a young caregiver who coordinates out of school IDP children in Bama for evening lessons for basic alphabetical and numeric knowledge, hails Governor Zulum’s free education initiative.

“May God bless our Governor, Professor Zulum, for taking the burden off my neck – now all my little boys and girls, about 32 of them, are now enrolled in conventional schools and they are doing well, ” she said with excitement. “Their poor parent never worry about the cost of their education because it is free. I am going to sustain advocacy in supply of the government to ensure that parents enroll their kids in schools.”

““Furthermore, the Borno State government awarded scholarships totaling 5,580,441,012 naira to 29,325 undergraduate and postgraduate students from Borno State studying both locally and abroad. Additionally, the government covered tuition fees and provided monthly allowances amounting to 1,561,527,600 naira to 997 students at the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Dr Wakilbe said.”

The health sector has also seen significant improvements under Governor Zulum’s leadership, with the construction of primary healthcare centers, procurement of medical equipment, and provision of essential drugs across the state. The administration’s commitment to providing accessible and affordable healthcare services underscores its dedication to the well-being of all citizens.

“In Mafa, 20 primary health centers have been equipped with solar power systems to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services with a steady supply of drugs and consumables,” the Commissioner for Health, Professor Baba M Ghana.

“The Brigadier Abba Kyari Hospital in Ngaranam is currently undergoing renovations to enhance healthcare services. The government has procured medical equipment worth billions of naira and distributed them to health facilities across the state. Solar power systems have been installed in primary health centers in Ngurosoye, Andari, and Gwoza as part of the administration’s commitment to fulfilling campaign promises.

“The government is constructing a College of Nursing in Gwoza and Monguno, along with Eye and Dental Hospitals in Monguno and Biu. General Hospital Biu is being upgraded to a specialist hospital, while General Hospitals in Damboa and Gajiram are undergoing complete reconstruction. The administration aims to establish at least one primary health center in each of the 312 electoral wards in Borno State as part of its post-insurgency recovery agenda,” the commissioner added

Governor Zulum’s visionary approach extends beyond infrastructure development to include initiatives aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, creating job opportunities, and building resilience within the community. Through the establishment of vocational and entrepreneurial institutes and ICT centers, the administration is equipping young people with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Four vocational entrepreneurial institutes have been established with the aim of training youth in entrepreneurship and apprenticeship. The goal is to equip them with skills and trades that will improve their socio-economic well-being, make them productive in the future, and steer them away from political unrest and other forms of idleness. These institutes offer training in 14 different trades and apprenticeships, including welding, carpentry, solar light fabrication, cosmetology, tailoring, knitting, computer application and repairs, and automobile maintenance, among others.

Additionally, the Zulum-led government has constructed, equipped, furnished, and commissioned four new ICT centers in Gubio Town, each with 100 computer units. These centers aim to train youth in literacy and numeracy as part of the government’s digital initiative. Furthermore, four other ICT centers located in Mafa, Damboa, and Bayo I have been completed and are awaiting commissioning.

During the first year of governance in the second term, the Vocational Enterprise Institute in Muna graduated 832 orphans. The institute provided them with starter packs and cash to help them start a new self-reliant life. Moreover, 64 of the best graduates were offered automatic employment.

Governor Zulum’s achievements over the last year are not just a collection of projects and programs; they are a testament to his unwavering dedication to the people of Borno State and a shining example of what can be accomplished through visionary leadership and relentless determination. In the face of adversity, Governor Zulum continues to inspire and uplift, leading the way towards a future of prosperity and opportunity for all in Borno State.

To end this article, one must acknowledge that Governor Zulum’s standout quality, evident in his first four years and continuing into his second term, is his exceptional loyalty, dedication to vision, focus, and goals. Over the past five years, he has completed a total of 1195 projects, averaging 239 projects per year. Remarkably, in his fifth year, he precisely delivered 238 projects, showcasing his deliberate and strategic planning skills. This consistent achievement is a signature of Governor Zulum’s intentional and effective governance approach.

ZULUM: 238 Projects in 365 Days; Another Year of Remarkable Progress in Borno’s Project Landscape

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VP Shettima Mourns Borno Terror Attack Victims, Says No Religion Endorses Killing Of Innocent Lives

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VP Shettima Mourns Borno Terror Attack Victims, Says No Religion Endorses Killing Of Innocent Lives

By: Our Reporter

Ahead of his trip to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Vice President Kashim Shettima , has expressed grief over the death of 25 persons killed in the multiple explosions in different locations across Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Monday.

He pointed out that no religion sanctions the killing of innocent lives, as the sanctity of human life remains a core tenet of major world faiths.

VP Shettima, who spoke on Tuesday during the closing of the Annual Ramadan Tafsir at the State House Mosque, Abuja, prayed Almighty Allah to grant the souls of those killed in the terror attack in Maiduguri eternal rest, reward them with Aljannah firdaus and give their family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Praying Almighty Allah to also vanish all agents of terror from the surface of the earth, the VP said, “May the lives of innocent souls – 25 of them – that lost their lives in Maiduguri last evening rest in peace. May Allah grant their souls eternal rest and reward them with His Aljannah firdaus, and may Allah also grant their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.

“May Allah bring this madness to an end. No religion sanctions the killing of the innocent. Whatever that is motivating them, may Allah either guide them on to the right path or May Allah vanish them from the surface of the earth.”

The Vice President emphasised the need for all Nigerians to continue to pray for the country across every sector, as well as pray that the Almighty should continue to grant President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of his team wisdom, courage, sincerity and equity in service.

He noted that each season of Ramadan reminds Muslims of a truth that power often tries to hide from man, and that no sit is permanent, just as no office is ultimate and no human being stands above his dependence on his creator.

VP Shettima said, “In the presence of Allah, the distance between the mighty and the unknown vanishes. What remains is character, what remains is accountability, what remains is what we did with the trust placed in our hands.

“This is why gatherings such as this matters. They rescue public lives from arrogance; they retain soul to scale; they teach those entrusted with authority that the nation is not built by policy alone but by conscience; not by proclamation alone but by restraint; not by ambition alone but by fear of Allah.”

The VP called on the Muslim faithful to continue to live in the teachings and lessons of the month of Ramadan, as the final days of Ramadan begins to sleep through their fingers.

“The question before us is not whether Ramadan is ending. The question is whether its teachings will continue to live in us after the moon has changed.

“It is quite easy to cut the head when the atmosphere is charged with devotion. The harder task is to carry it into ordinary days, into the market, into the office, into the home, into the chamber of power, and into the private corners where only Allah sees what we are doing, ” he noted.

While drawing from the lessons of Ramadan, the Vice President said the holy month had thought the Muslim faithful that pity without mercy is noise and worship without service is incomplete.

“So, as we close this year’s Tafsir, let us not return to the habits that weaken our common lives; let us not go back to bitterness, to reckless speech, to indifference dressed as sophistication. A believer doesn’t spend the whole month learning only to become a captive again of anger, greed and division.

“Nigeria needs homes where children encounter good examples before good advice. Nigeria, indeed, needs leaders in every spare who understand that influence is a trust, not a license, ” VP Shettima said.

He paid growing tribute to the Chief Imam of the State House Mosque, Sheikh Abdulwaheed Suleiman Abubakar, and his lieutenant for conducting the Tafsir with wisdom, calm hearts.

Earlier, the Chief Imam prayed for sustainable peace and development of Nigerian and the success of the Tinubu administration’s policies and programmes.

The cleric emphasised the need for leaders at all levels to continue to discharge their responsibilities with the fear of Allah for the process and development of the country.

VP Shettima Mourns Borno Terror Attack Victims, Says No Religion Endorses Killing Of Innocent Lives

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IGP Visits Maiduguri Bombing Sites, Assesses Security Measures

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IGP Visits Maiduguri Bombing Sites, Assesses Security Measures

By: Zagazola Makama

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has visited victims of the recent IED explosions in Maiduguri and assessed the security situation at key attack sites, underscoring the force’s commitment to public safety.

The IGP visited the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), where casualties of the bomb blasts are receiving medical attention. He commiserated with victims and their families, assuring them of the Nigeria Police Force’s resolve to identify and dismantle networks responsible for the attacks.

Following the hospital visit, he proceeded to the Maiduguri Monday Market, one of the sites targeted by the terrorists, for an on-the-spot security assessment. The visit included interactions with local security personnel to review operational preparedness and strengthen coordinated response measures.

The IGP also visited the Borno State Government House and the State Police Command Headquarters as part of ongoing engagements to enhance collaboration between federal and state security agencies.

He emphasized that security has been significantly tightened across Maiduguri and its environs, with increased patrols, surveillance, and joint operational deployments aimed at preventing further incidents. Residents were reassured of the force’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property in the aftermath of the attacks.

IGP Visits Maiduguri Bombing Sites, Assesses Security Measures

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Save us From Heavy Trailers Killing Our People… Muna Garage Residents Cry Out to Zulum

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Save us From Heavy Trailers Killing Our People… Muna Garage Residents Cry Out to Zulum

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Residents of Muna axis after customs area in Maiduguri have called on Governor Babagana Zulum to save them from the excesses of heavy duty vehicles who deliberately clog the international highway leading to Gamboru Ngala council area on a daily basis.

Some of the residents who spoke to this reporter after a recent crash which almost killed all the occupants of a commercial “Keke” regretted that the road traffic authorities in the state have not given this international highway the priority it deserves in terms of traffic management due to it’s prominence.

A careless trailer which was parked along the road close to the Alkome police hospital had narrowed the road for another trailer and a Keke nappe which struggled for the little space remaining all driving towards the Muna Garage area when a brush occurred and a sudden bang from the back by a third trailer which almost killed all the occupants of the keke nappe.

Some of the commuters came out alive from the crushed Keke with minor wounds while a particular man had his forefoot crushed almost hanging away from the ball of one of that very foot.

It was a bloody weekend for the commuters as blood from one of them flowed freely into the Keke and on the tarred road leading to Muna while onlookers rushed to see if anyone survived the crash.

Since no security personnel showed up within the first 30 minutes of the crash, the wounded were rushed to a nearby hospital while the trailer cleared from the road to ease traffic movement.

Most of the eye witnesses were enraged by the incident with some blaming it on the Keke riders while others castigated the trailers who insist on parking on the shoulder of this international route which should be free from these kinds of challenges.

Baana, a vulcanizer who says he has spent over three decades on this axis of the town called on Governor Babagana Zulum to as a matter of urgency build a massive modern trailer park for the heavy trucks so that they will stop parking along the road while they wait for clearance in the morning to embark on their journeys to Ngala and beyond.

“Lack of a modern trailer park is the main reason why we keep recording lingering accidents on a daily basis here with countless of people being wounded and are not recorded in the government statistics.” He stressed.

For mallam Isa, a teacher inside the suburb behind Alkome police Hospital, the Governor should as a matter of urgency sign an executive fiat to stop trailers from parking on main roads like this one leading to Mafa,Dikwa and Ngala.

” We are calling on the Governor to invoke an executive order based on section 5 of the 1999 constitution by banning all trailers from parking on the trunk A roads leading to Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

” This is because, apart from endangering the lives of commuters, prolonged stay on the tarred roads cause a lot of damage to the roads which the Governor has dualized after destruction by insurgency.”

Mallam Isa also called on Federal and State Road Safety managers in the state to create a road side emergency station along this route that would be assisting them in clearing accident victims in the road throughout the week and even during the weekend.

“look at this accident that just happened, they are all guilty of one offence or the other. But I equally blame the Keke riders because if they have respect for human lives, they will not be contesting for right of way with heavy duty trailers.

” These trailers are very wicked people. They use their big structures to block and entrap people only to be begging for mercy when the damage has been done.

” Their excesses are as grave as that of the keke napep people. The Federal Road Safety and the Borno traffic management authorities should increase their fines further to serve as deterrent on the rest.

Save us From Heavy Trailers Killing Our People… Muna Garage Residents Cry Out to Zulum

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