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Health, Education, Economic Development tops Zulum’s 2025 Budget

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Health, Education, Economic Development tops Zulum’s 2025 Budget

By: Our Reporter

Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has presented the 2025 Budget, tagged the “Budget of Recovery and Continuity,” with a total sum of ₦584.76 billion aimed at consolidating the state’s developmental strides.

The budget prioritizes health, education, and economic recovery, alongside critical investments in security, infrastructure, and social services.

The budget comprises a Capital Expenditure of ₦380.84 billion and a Recurrent Expenditure of ₦203.92 billion. It will be financed through Recurrent Revenue from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) of ₦311.70 billion, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of ₦30.09 billion, and Capital Receipts of ₦237.96 billion, which include aid, grants, and a Capital Development Fund.

Annoucing the sectoral allocation, Governor Zulum said the health Sector will receive ₦89.97 billion which 15.39% of Total Budget size

He announced a robust healthcare agenda, including, construction of an Orthopaedic Hospital in Maiduguri, establishment of General Hospitals in Magumeri, Gubio, Azare, Uba, Dikwa, Kaleri, and Mafa, alongside rehabilitation of hospitals in Baga and Mulai.

Completion and commissioning of the Borno State University Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri and expansion of the State Health Insurance Scheme for civil servants and vulnerable citizens across the 27 Local Government Areas.

“Enrol civil servants into the State Health Insurance Scheme, expand the enrolment of vulnerable indigenes across the 27 Local Government Areas into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund”.

“The Borno State primary health care development agency would revitalise 100 Primary health care centres in the state and plan to construct 6 additional primary health care centres and upgrade 6 PHCs to comprehensive health centres” Zulum added.

In the education sector which was allocated ₦69.81 billion, Governor Zulum highlighted that the plan to establish a new Second Chance School, construction of five additional Mega Schools and five Mega High Islamic Schools, rehabilitation of facilities in 50 schools across the state.

Zulum announced the procurement of food items worth ₦10 billion to address food insecurity, cultivation of 100,000 hectares for rain-fed farming and 50,000 hectares for irrigation and investment in large-scale Firgi farming.

“In the next fiscal year, government will invest in programmes aimed at stimulating local economic activities, supporting small businesses and attracting investment”.

He emphasized that the state government has released the sum of ₦22 billion for victim support and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare facilities. Other major projects include

Other priority projects in the 2025 budget include establishment of Maiduguri Dry Port, Dualization of a 7.1km stretch of Maiduguri-Biu Road and construction of a 6-span bridge across River Ngaddabul as well as Modernization of Borno Radio and Television (BRTV).

Governor Zulum reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to addressing key challenges, including clearing the backlog of pensions and gratuities, noting that Implementation of ₦72,000 minimum wage for civil servants and teachers have already commenced “Despite the impact of the flood disaster, we are committed to ensuring the welfare of our pensioners,” he said.

He also pledged unwavering support for initiatives that will strengthen recovery, continuity, and resilience across Borno State, ensuring a stable and prosperous future for its citizens.

Speaker Borno State House of Assembly, Hon Abdulkarim Lawan announced that the House passed a total of 12 laws that will directly promote good governance and impact on lives of the people of the state.

He commended Governor Babagana Zulum for the resettlement of victims of Boko Haram insurgency, acknowledging the cordial working relationship between the legislature and the executive.

Health, Education, Economic Development tops Zulum’s 2025 Budget.

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19 kidnapped victims regain freedom in Katsina under peace deal

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19 kidnapped victims regain freedom in Katsina under peace deal

By: Zagazola Makama

Nineteen persons abducted by bandits in Katsina State have regained their freedom following the ongoing peace accord under the Operation Safe Corridor Initiative.

The victims, comprising men and women from Sabuwa and Funtua Local Government Areas, were released on Thursday morning at Innono Jigo Village in Sabuwa LGA as part of reconciliation efforts with repentant bandits.

They include Safaratu Basiru, 27, Jamila Auwalu, 22, and 17 others who had been held in captivity for several weeks.

Local officials and community leaders received the freed victims and conveyed them to Haske Private Health Centre, Sabuwa, for medical examination before reuniting them with their families.

Authorities in the area said the situation was being closely monitored as part of sustained efforts to consolidate peace and stability in the state.

19 kidnapped victims regain freedom in Katsina under peace deal

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Gov. Uba Sani Says No Citizens Should be Pushed into Poverty Seeking Essential Medical Care

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Gov. Uba Sani Says No Citizens Should be Pushed into Poverty Seeking Essential Medical Care

…Pate Calls for National Consensus on Prioritizing Health Care

By: Michael Mike

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has advocated for access to affordable medical care for all Nigerians, insisting that no citizens should be pushed into poverty for seeking essential medical care.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Ali Pate also called for national consensus on prioritizing healthcare system in the country.

Speaking at a High-Level Health Media Dialogue with Media Executives in Nigeria with theme: “Escalating Executive and Media Action for Health Accountability and Financing,” on Thursday in Abuja, Kaduna State governor said: “We believe no Nigerian family should be pushed into poverty by seeking essential medical care. Here, equity is not rhetoric for us. It is a principle of governance and justice…”

Sani, while noting that health facilities have been elevated in all parts of Kaduna state, said these landmark facilities significantly reduces the need for medical tourism, lessening the financial and emotional burdens in families.

He noted that emergency care is given priority, said: “We have launched the Kaduna State Emergency Medical Services ambulance system,” which has ensured that countless lives ensuring that urgent intervention reach patient within critical calling hour.

He added that: “Our consensus, as of today in Kaduna, the government has made it free for every emergency case in the first 24 or 48 hours without paying a penny, every patient will be treated free the first 48 hours in Kaduna,”

On his part, Pate said the issue of health affordability is universal and Nigerians need to know that the federal government is working on this.

He said: “There is real pain of affordability. Half of the world’s population doesn’t have access to basic healthcare services, not only in Nigeria, but we tend to self flagellate and not build a consensus to fix it, because it takes national consensus. It’s not a technical issue.

“Fixing health is not just a technical issue because we have had technical expertise for a very long time. It’s not also purely technocratic in terms of just having the right actors that know how to manage doing fundamentally, it’s a political choice that is reflective of political consensus within a country. It is when a country does not build a consensus on the prioritization of health or of education that it doesn’t allocate the resources or use the resources in that right way. And that goes beyond government.”

He noted that with the new tax reform has offered an opportunity for health to be adequately funded in the country.

Also speaking, the Country Director, Gates Foundation Nigeria Uche Amaonwu, said the health of our mothers, children and families, and by extension Nigeria’s human capital depends on what we do next for primary health care.

He assured that the Gates Foundation remains deeply committed to working alongside government and partners to ensure that every Nigerian family can rely on a strong, well financed primary healthcare system.

Earlier in her welcome speech, the Executive Director. International Society of Media in Public Health, Mrs. Moji Makanjuola reiterated the importance of budgeting adequately to health sector

She said “while we acknowledge the remarkable progress made, we must also confront — with courage and compassion — the realities reflected in our health indices.”

She said according to the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Nigeria still records one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, and an under-five mortality rate of 102 deaths per 1,000 live births. These figures translate to approximately 82,000 Nigerian women dying annually due to pregnancy-related causes, and one in every ten Nigerian children dying before the age of five.

“These statistics are not meant to indict but to inspire — to spotlight the urgency for deeper reforms, more coordinated investments, and sustained accountability. They also highlight why our collective focus on strengthening PHC systems remains both timely and essential.

“Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) represent the bedrock of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) — the first and most critical point of contact for millions of Nigerians, especially those in rural and underserved communities. Yet, data from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) reveals that only 20% of the over 30,000 PHCs nationwide are fully functional.

“When PHCs work — maternal and child mortality declines, immunization coverage improves, productivity rises, and the cycle of poverty linked to ill health is broken. Our task, therefore, is not merely to acknowledge these challenges but to transform them into opportunities for lasting change.”

Gov. Uba Sani Says No Citizens Should be Pushed into Poverty Seeking Essential Medical Care

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Four killed, others displaced as communal clash erupts in Niger community

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Four killed, others displaced as communal clash erupts in Niger community

By: Zagazola Makama

Four persons have been confirmed dead following a violent communal clash between Nupe and Fulani residents in Ezhigi village, Edati Local Government Area of Niger State.

Zagazola Makama report that the conflict began on Oct. 21, 2025, when a yet-to-be-identified Nupe man from Ezhigi had an altercation with one Jibril Adamu, a Fulani herder, for reasons yet to be ascertained.

During the dispute, Jibril allegedly attacked the Nupe man with a machete, inflicting deep injuries. The victim was rushed to the General Hospital, Kutigi, where he later died on Oct. 22 while receiving treatment.

The death of the victim reportedly triggered a reprisal attack by Nupe youths, who stormed the Fulani camp in the same village, killed four Fulani residents, and set their settlement ablaze.

Police personnel from Enagi Division swiftly mobilised to the scene and restored normalcy.

The command confirmed that one suspect, Jibril Adamu, had been arrested, while investigation was ongoing to track other perpetrators and prevent further escalation.

Four killed, others displaced as communal clash erupts in Niger community

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