News
Southern Borno and Zulum’s Inclusivity Galore
Southern Borno and Zulum’s Inclusivity Galore
By Dauda Iliya
Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s recent working trip to the Southern Borno Senatorial Zone opened more vistas into his passion for inclusivity in the conduct of governance; and his commitment to justice and fairness in the equitable distribution of infrastructural development and services across the state.
A public or political office holder’s passion and commitment to serving an entity are normally weighed on the scale of what, in principle and practice, is the social contract binding him and the entity he serves, on the sacred ideals of justice and fairness to all sections of the entity.
Given the monumental destruction of development infrastructures and services by insecurity over the last fifteen years, reconstructing Borno State from the rubbles that littered its vast physical and economic landscapes has always required inclusivity in the distribution of development infrastructures and services for the speedy and sustainable reconstruction of the state in all facets.
Over the last five years since his ascension to the governorship saddle, Zulum was lavishly reported to have executed over one thousand meaningful and durable reconstruction and economic revitalization projects equitably distributed across the three Senatorial zones of the state.
He was apparently spurred to do so by his passion for inclusivity in the conduct of governance on the ideals of administrative and political justice and fairness to all.
Always on his heels, trotting around the state, performing the groundbreaking for development projects, supervising or commissioning completed and equipped such projects across the three senatorial zones of the state, Prof Zulum seeks to equitably satisfy and earn the reverence of every zone as a just and fair governor.
It was, therefore, in sustenance of this tradition that he undertook his latest round of such working trips to the Southern Borno Senatorial Zone.
Governor Zulum commissioned the state-of-the-art eye and dental hospitals and a mega secondary school in Biu Local Government Area of the Southern Borno Senatorial Zone.
The 40-bed capacity eye hospital, equipped with advanced diagnostic and surgical facilities, is to address the growing need for ophthalmological care in the zone.
To ensure the hospital achieves its purpose, Zulum instantly approved the appointment of a team of highly trained medical doctors and specialists who will offer treatments for cataracts, glaucoma and other vision-related ailments.
The 30-bed capacity dental hospital is to provide comprehensive oral health services, including preventive care, orthodontics and restorative treatments, ensuring that residents no longer have to travel long distances for dental care.
While commissioning the two health facilities, Zulum underscored his administration’s commitment to improving the quality healthcare for Borno’s citizens.
His words: “Healthcare is one of the cardinal pillars of the Borno State’s 25-Year Development Plan and the 10-Year Strategic Transformation Initiative. Reflecting on this commitment, we allocated 15 percent of the state’s budget to health sector in the 2024 and 2025 fiscal year in line with the Abuja declaration recommendation for healthcare financing to prioritize health and well-being of our people.”
Governor Zulum, while inaugurating the two healthcare facilities, announced the release of funds for the construction of 5 general hospitals across the state, one each in Askira Uba, Magumeri, Gubio, Mafa and Dikwa local government areas.
He reiterated his commitment to addressing the manpower needs in the healthcare centres in order to provide optimal healthcare to the people of Borno.
He said: “We recognize that the development of a resilient healthcare system necessitates more than just physical infrastructure. The availability of skilled healthcare professionals is equally crucial.
“To address this shortage of manpower, we are launching a multidimensional initiative, incorporating a range of measures to attract, train, retain, develop skilled healthcare professionals and talents and collaboration with educational institutions among others.”
The governor also commissioned a mega secondary school at Miringa, in Biu local government area designed to accommodate over 1,300 students. The school consists of 60 classrooms, an ICT centre and four laboratories among other facilities that enhance teaching and learning activities.
He distributed text and exercise books, uniforms, school sandals and a bicycle for each of the enrolled students to ease movement from the nearby villages.
Over decades, Southern Borno has been reputed for its monumental quantum of agriculture production.
Governor Zulum, therefore, explored the possibility of enabling the zone to maintain and elevate that enviable status, in keeping with Nigeria’s unfolding economic diversification policies and programmes from the oil to the agricultural sectors.
He, consequently, with what sounded like a loud bang, announced his administration’s resolve to resuscitate the 40 years old Biu Dam to Boost irrigation farming in the zone and tackle the perennial water scarcity bedeviling Biu and the neighbouring local governments.
Zulum announced the resolve during his traditional homage to the Emir of Biu, Mai Mustapha Umar Mustapha II, at his palace in Biu, as part of his two-day working trip to the zone.
He underscored the critical importance his administration places on irrigation farming as part of its efforts to enhance food security and provide sustainable livelihoods for victims of Boko Haram insurgency.
He told the royal farher: “Your Highness, I want to assure you that we will revitalize the Biu Dam to bolster irrigation farming in your emirate. Agriculture is one of the cardinal pillars of my administration and we will continue to invest in the sector to ensure food security in the state.”
In a dramatic move to bolster the local economy and upscale small, mini, and micro enterprises, the governor disbursed N1 billion to 9,403 MSMEs in Biu and Hawul LGAs. Over the past five years, Zulum has launched similar initiatives aimed at tackling poverty head-on and revitalising the battered economy of Borno.
The breakdown revealed that N560.3 million was distributed to 5,603 entrepreneurs, with each receiving N100,000. Additionally, N439.7 million was allocated to 1,800 youths and vulnerable households in Biu, along with a further 2,000 entrepreneurs from Hawul.
Consequently, Zulum during the visit also laid the foundation for the construction of 600 two-bedroom semi-detached houses for teachers and health professionals in five different locations. They are 100 houses each in Biu, Magumeri, Hawul, Gubio and 200 at Borno State Teaching Hospital.
In the spirit of inclusivity, administrative and political justice and fairness in spreading equitable development across the three senatorial zones of the state, Governor Zulum promised to roll out many more development projects in Southern Borno before the end of his tenure in 2027.
Professor Babagana Umara Zulum’s recent working trip to Southern Borno Senatorial Zone was an enviable showcase of a governor’s passion for the principle and practice of Inclusivity in equitable service delivery to the three zones of the state.
It was a showcase of Inclusivity Galore.
Dauda Iliya is the Special Adviser Media/Spokesperson to the Executive Governor of Borno State.
Southern Borno and Zulum’s Inclusivity Galore
News
Borno belong to APC, Zulum affirms party supremacy, says we are for Tinubu
Borno belong to APC, Zulum affirms party supremacy, says we are for Tinubu
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has stated that the state is an undisputed stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and remains loyal to the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The governor made the assertion on Monday during flag-off of the APC Northeast e-registration workshop in Maiduguri.

The occasion, which brought together national party leadership, state executives, local government chairmen, and members of the national and state assemblies, was convened to ensure the party’s membership e-registration exercise as part of the digital reform process.
Governor Zulum, addressing the gathering, said, “I want to assure you that the Government of Borno State under my leadership will provide the desired support to ensure the success of the APC membership e-registration exercise in the north east.”

“Our party members in other states governed by other political parties will be supported to get captured.”
Zulum further stated, “Let there be no doubt in anyone’s mind, Borno State is 100% for the APC. Our loyalty to the party and its leadership is absolute,” Governor Zulum declared.
“Let us be frank and remember our recent history. Before the APC came to power, Borno State was on its knees. Our local governments were under siege, our economy was shattered, and our people were living in fear.”
“But look at where we are today. The narrative is shifting, and this shift is due to the relentless efforts and massive support from the APC-led federal government.”

“From the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, we received unprecedented support in our fight against terrorism. We witnessed the establishment of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), which has played a crucial role in rebuilding our communities and infrastructure.”
“Now, under our leader, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this support has not wavered; it has been strengthened. The President has shown a deep commitment to the final restoration of peace in Borno and the entire North-East. The Federal Government is actively collaborating with our administration to ensure the safe resettlement of our people and the rebuilding of their livelihoods.”
“The evidence is clear for all to see. The APC government at the federal level has been a true partner in our journey from the storm to normalcy. For the first time, our son became the Vice President of Nigeria under the APC.”

“I wish to reiterate my call to the good people of Borno State to join me in supporting the re-election of President Tinubu in the 2027 General Elections. Let us begin to build that momentum now. Let us work together to ensure his visionary leadership continues to guide our nation forward,” Zulum said.
Borno belong to APC, Zulum affirms party supremacy, says we are for Tinubu
News
Newly coronated Hausa monarch of Makurdi dies after brief illness
Newly coronated Hausa monarch of Makurdi dies after brief illness
By: Zagazola Makama
The newly coronated Hausa Monarch of Makurdi, His Royal Highness Alhaji Rayanu Sangami, has died after a brief illness.
According to the sources, Alhaji Sangami died on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State.
His remains were conveyed to Makurdi the same day and buried at about 11:20 a.m. according to Islamic rites.
The late monarch was coronated as the Sarkin Hausawa of Makurdi on Sept. 20, 2025.
Newly coronated Hausa monarch of Makurdi dies after brief illness
News
MOTION Condemns Demolition of Homes in Oworonsoki
MOTION Condemns Demolition of Homes in Oworonsoki
…Says Action, Genocide Against the Poor
By: Michael Mike
The Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria (MOT!ON) has condemned in the strongest possible terms the alleged ongoing state-sponsored brutality and unlawful demolition of homes in Oworonsoki, Lagos.
The organisation, in a statement on Monday signed by Hauwa Mustapha and Chris Isiguzo, Convener and Co-Convener respectively, said reports confirmed that in the early hours of Sunday, armed policemen and hired thugs invaded the community, teargassed residents, and destroyed homes in defiance of a subsisting court injunction, adding that this brazen contempt for the rule of law, and disregard for human life and dignity, marks yet another dark chapter in the Lagos State Government’s deliberate war against the poor.
The statement read: “This is more disheartening against the fact that the world bank in October 2025 declared Nigeria to be home to 139 million people living in extreme poverty in its report.
One would have thought that the Nigerian government are collectively working hard to lift people out of poverty, unfortunately, the Lagos state government has allowed private interest to override public interest in complete defiance to an existing court order.”
It reminded that: “Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nation Convention on Human Rights. According to United Nation’s definition, forced evictions is the permanent or temporary removal against their will of individuals, families and/or communities from the homes and/or land which they occupy, without the provision of, and access to, appropriate forms of legal or other protection.
“And article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights states that the States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent.
“At the time of this press statement, over 7,000 housing units have already been lost in the Oworonsoki community- a home to the middle class and poorest office poor in Lagos state, with families, pregnant women, children, and the elderly rendered homeless overnight. This is the height of abuse of human rights, cruel treatment of the poor and brazen disregard for the rule of law.
“We want to state clearly that it is irresponsible for the Lagos State government to discard these structures as “illegal structures.” These are people’s lives, built over decades of labour, community, and love. To tear them down without dialogue, compensation, or relocation is not urban development. The Lagos State government is carrying out a social cleansing and a genocide against poor people.
“The government’s actions violate not only the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which makes the welfare of the citizens, including their housing welfare, the responsibility of the government, but also violate the basic principles of humanity and justice. When the state becomes the destroyer of homes rather than their protector, it ceases to be legitimate in the eyes of the people, and utterly useless.
We, therefore, demand an immediate cessation of all demolition activities involving the houses of the Nigerian people in Oworonshoki and across Lagos State, and across Nigeria, immediately. We demand full compliance with the court injunction issued by Justice A.G. Balogun, and an independent investigation into the involvement of armed police and hired thugs in the attack on residents.
“We demand a commensurate compensation and emergency housing for all displaced families, and a public apology and accountability from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Task Force leadership.
“MOT!ON stands with the displaced residents of Oworonshokiand every Nigerian community facing the tyranny of forced evictions and state violence. The struggle for transformation begins in the defense of ordinary lives against the machinery of greed and impunity.
“If the government insists on destroying homes under the cover of “development,” the people must insist on building a country where justice, not bulldozers, shapes our cities. We demand that the government stop the demolitions now. Stop the violence now. Return the people’s homes now!”
MOTiON is a collective force of Nigerians from mass democratic organisations, workers’ organisations, pro-democracy movements, movements for social justice, women groups, citizens groups, NGOs, academia, students and youth groups, and climate action groups. We are a movement of movements channeling shared anger, frustration and aspirations of Nigerians into purposeful action. Through concerted, strategic effort, we are engaging in citizens’ actions to address and overcome the root causes of Nigeria’s current state: elite capture, ineffective leadership, institutional corruption, insecurity, and the pervasive culture of impunity.
MOTION Condemns Demolition of Homes in Oworonsoki
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