Northeast
Borno Speaker wants Military restore civil authority in Guzamala, Kukawa LGAs from Boko Haram control
Borno Speaker wants Military restore civil authority in Guzamala, Kukawa LGAs from Boko Haram control
…Awards scholarship to 446 students
By: Our Reporter
The Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Abdulkarim Lawan, on Friday appealed to the Federal Government and the military authorities, especially the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor to fast track efforts in the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity by troops of “Operation Hadin Kai’ restore civil authority in Guzamala and Kukawa Local Government Headquarters which are still under the full control of Boko Haram.
Lawan stated this at the official flag off ceremony for distribution of Phase IV Scholarship worth N5 million to 446 indigenous students of Guzamala studying at various tertiary institutions after they were displaced by insurgents in the last six years.
The occasion which took place at the Kashim Ibrahim College of Education Multi -Purpose Hall in Maiduguri, was attended by traditional rulers, the academia, politicians and many displaced students from Guzamala.
Following activities of insurgents, Lawan who is the longest serving Speaker in Nigeria, initiated a scholarship scheme to deserving students which was coordinated by Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan Scholarship Committee (HALSC) chaired by Comrade Wakil Sheriff.
Addressing the gathering, the Speaker appreciated the efforts of the military and other security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram and other criminalities in Borno and the North East in general.
He however said, “the entire Guzamala Local Government area where i hail from is still under the control of Boko Haram sect as there is no presence of troops or civilians as I speak, while in Kukawa which is the Council Headquarter, we only have presence of civilian population with no military presence.
“There is no single existence of civil authority in Guzamala, not to even talk of Military presence in the Council Headquarter and its surrounding communities, our people including our District Heads, stakeholders who are here with us are still taking refuge in camps and host communities located in Nganzai, Monguno and other neighbouring local government areas including Maiduguri metropolis for the last six years.
“Our people are desperate to go back home, it is unfortunate that this is not the first time I have been agitating for military presence in Guzamala and surrounding communities to enable my displaced people take the advantage of Governor Babagana Zulum’s move in Reconstruction and Resettlement, but to no avail. I insist that Guzamala is still a no -go -area”. He lamented.
While urging the benefitting students to take their studies seriously, Lawan pledged that the gesture is a continuous one, so as to enable most of the displaced students to meet their immediate school needs.
He therefore commended the chairman of the scholarship committee, Comrade Wakil Sheriff and his team for doing a thorough job during the selection process, which he noted, was devoid of political or ethnic consideration.
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The chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Bukar Zanna appreciated the Lawmaker for giving hope to the hopeless, and solicited support and prayers for the Speaker to succeed in his political career, and for God to restore peace not only in Borno, but the country as a whole.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Scholarship Committee Chairman, Comrade Sheriff said, the Speaker has initiated a good number of physical projects that has direct bearing on the lives of the majority of the people, but could not actualize due to the unfortunate activities of Boko Haram that destroyed all communities, including means of livelihood in the council.
However, he intimated the guests that in the quest to support human capital development, and in accordance with the Borno State Government 25 – Year Development Plan of Governor Zulum, Rt. Hon Lawan has been giving stipend to indigenous students studying in various tertiary institutions within and outside the state and beyond as his constituency projects.
“Since our inauguration, which gave us the mandate to collect databases of students, scholarships have been awarded to over 350 students during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd phases. I am glad that today, we are witnessing the phase IV of the scholarship award to 446 students, consisting of 432 undergraduates and 14 post graduates.
“Among the beneficiaries of today’s scholarship award are 213 students from University of Maiduguri, 29 students from Borno State University and 7 students from other universities across the country.
“We also have 120 students from colleges of Education, Agriculture and Health, Mohammed Goni College of Law and Islamic Studies (MOGOLIS) and 77 students from Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri who are beneficiaries of this gesture today”. Sheriff said.
Apart from the scholarship, Sheriff informed that the Speaker under his Foundation has facilitated admission of indigenes to many tertiary institutions and ensures that tuition and other fees are paid for new students.
The Special Guest of Honour, Alhaji Mohammed Mustafa Kukawa, who is the Senior Special Assistant, SSA to Governor Zulum, said the gesture is apt, as it will alleviate the immediate economic hardship faced by students while in school.
In a goodwill message, numerous stakeholders including Umar Sheriff, a Lecturer from College of Agriculture in Maiduguri who benefited from the first batch of the scholarship scheme thanked the Speaker for his humanitarian assistance, and urged the students to use this golden opportunity in order to better their future.
Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of Awards to the Speaker as the ‘Best Humanitarian Lawmaker’ by various Student’s associations.
Borno Speaker wants Military restore civil authority in Guzamala, Kukawa LGAs from Boko Haram control
Amotekun operative arrested after accidental fatal shooting in Oyo
By: Zagazola Makama
An operative of the Amotekun Corps has been arrested following the accidental fatal shooting of a man during an attempt to arrest two persons involved in a violent altercation in Saki area of Oyo State.
Police sources said the incident occurred at about 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at Ayemojuba Kosigi Village, via Saki.
The matter was reported to the Saki Police Division on Friday by Abdullahi Dogo, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Fulani association in Saki, who said two men of Fulani extraction, whose identities are yet to be established, engaged in a cutlass fight.
According to the report, an Amotekun operative, identified as Abdulafeez Alabi, allegedly discharged his firearm accidentally while attempting to arrest the two men, fatally hitting one of them.
The victim died at the scene, while the second individual was not reported to have been injured.
Police arrested the Amotekun operative and recovered a locally fabricated single-barrel gun as well as one expended cartridge from the scene.
The suspect is in police custody, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.
Amotekun operative arrested after accidental fatal shooting in Oyo
Zulum Clears Gratuity Backlog with N5.81bn Payout, Promises Better Welfare for LG Workers
By: Michael Mike
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has approved the release of N5.81 billion to clear a substantial backlog of gratuities owed to retired civil servants and the families of deceased workers, in one of the state’s biggest pension settlement exercises aimed at easing the hardship facing former public servants.
The governor presented cheques valued at N5,814,830,271.94 on Friday at the Government House in Maiduguri before representatives of organised labour and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to meeting workers’ welfare obligations.
Of the total sum, N2.99 billion will be used to settle all outstanding gratuities owed to the families of deceased civil servants, while N2.82 billion will clear gratuities for retirees up to December 2022, including outstanding entitlements owed to staff of the Borno State Housing Corporation dating back to 2013.
Zulum said the intervention fulfils a major campaign promise and is intended to provide relief to families that have endured years of financial uncertainty.
“We have quite a number of civil servants who have lost their lives, and their families are still battling with life’s challenges. We are presenting about three billion naira to the families of deceased civil servants so they can continue to live in peace and dignity,” the governor said.
He added that with the latest payment, all retired civil servants up to 2022 would receive their gratuities in full, while the government would immediately begin processing payments for those who retired in 2023.
The latest disbursement adds to a series of interventions by the Zulum administration to address pension liabilities. The state currently releases N200 million monthly for gratuity payments. In 2025, the government approved N8 billion for pensioners’ entitlements and teachers’ gratuities, while N12 billion was disbursed in 2020 to settle benefits owed to about 5,000 retired state and local government workers.
Commissioner for Finance, Lawan Dalorima, described the payment as further evidence of the administration’s commitment to honouring workers who dedicated their careers to public service.
According to him, despite competing financial demands, the government has continued to prioritise the welfare of citizens, particularly retirees.
The organised labour movement welcomed the development, with the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Mamman Bukar, describing the payment as timely and capable of reducing the economic hardship confronting pensioners and the families of deceased workers.
He said the exercise would strengthen workers’ confidence in the government’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations.
Meanwhile, Zulum also assured local government employees that his administration is preparing measures to improve their welfare.
The governor acknowledged that local government workers face numerous challenges but explained that the size of the workforce has constrained the implementation of broader welfare reforms.
He said the state government would soon meet with leaders of local government workers to identify practical solutions.
“Borno State Government is very much aware of some of the problems facing local government employees. Very soon, we shall engage with you and see how we can address your challenges,” he said.
The cheque presentation ceremony was attended by senior government officials, members of the National Assembly, labour leaders, permanent secretaries and other top dignitaries.
Zulum Clears Gratuity Backlog with N5.81bn Payout, Promises Better Welfare for LG Workers
Zulum Emerges BusinessDay’s Best Performing Governor SCIRA Award of the Year
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has emerged as BusinessDay’s 2025 Governor of the Year on Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA) under the category of Infrastructure Competitiveness Category Awards.
The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at NAF Conference Center & Suites, Jabi, Abuja.
Zulum’s nomination was contained in a letter by the Publisher/CEO of BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun, addressed to the Governor.
“On behalf of BusinessDay Media Limited, Nigeria’s foremost business and economic intelligence platform, we are honoured to inform you that Borno State has been nominated for ‘Best Performing Governor’ under the Infrastructure Competitiveness Category for the 2025 States Competitiveness/Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA),” Aigbogun said.
According to him, Governor Zulum’s nomination acknowledges his administration’s extraordinary strides in rebuilding infrastructure, reviving moribund industries, and restoring livelihoods as part of Borno’s long-term post-conflict recovery.
“Your Excellency, few states embody the spirit of renewal as Borno does. Against the backdrop of a decade-long insurgency, your government has delivered one of Nigeria’s most ambitious reconstruction and reintegration programmes, with infrastructure as its anchor,” he added.
Highlights of this transformation include:
Revival of Industrial Assets: The Borno Plastic Industry and Borno Meat Processing Company, once abandoned, have been progressively rehabilitated, signaling a return of productive capacity and investor confidence.
Industrial Hub Redevelopment: Through the Borno State Industrial Park and Enterprise Centre (BIP), over 2,000 SMEs now operate in structured facilities that provide power, workspace, and logistics support.
Infrastructure-led Recovery: Over 10,000 houses have been reconstructed across local government areas, enabling market access and trade linkages among Maiduguri, Biu, Monguno, and Gwoza.
Energy & Industrial Power Supply: The Maiduguri 50MW Gas Plant and collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have significantly enhanced industrial energy reliability.
Mr Aigbogun said these efforts have repositioned Borno as a credible destination for post-conflict
industrial reinvestment that combines human development with economic diversification.
“Borno’s shortlisting was derived from the BusinessDay Research & Intelligence Unit (BRIU) and BudgIT State Competitiveness Model (2025), using a Composite Infrastructure Competitiveness Index (CICI) based on three weighted dimensions,”
“Across these parameters, Borno ranked among the top five northern states, with its infrastructure recovery index improving by over 41% between 2020 and 2024.
“In the education and health sectors, construction of over 100 secondary schools, Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital and Staff quarters, doctors’ quarters, as well as take-off support for Federal Polytechnic Monguno, Federal College Gwoza, School of Nursing and Midwifery in Gwoza and Monguno, and the Orthopedic Hospital Azare, amongst others,” he remarked.
The Publisher acknowledged that Governor Zulum’s administration has rebuilt confidence, reconstruct
and resettled communities, revived industries, education, and healthcare, noting that today Borno stands as a model of post-conflict competitiveness in Africa.
Zulum Emerges BusinessDay’s Best Performing Governor SCIRA Award of the Year
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