Zulum Unveils Infrastructure Push as World Bank Reaffirms Development Support for Borno

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has reiterated his administration’s commitment to post-conflict reconstruction and sustainable development following the commissioning of multiple infrastructure and education projects across the state, amid growing international development partnerships.

The projects were formally inaugurated by the Nigeria Country Director of the World Bank, Dr. Mathew Verghis, who described the investments as critical milestones in strengthening human capital development and economic resilience in regions recovering from insurgency.

Verghis praised the Borno State Government for prioritising education and infrastructure as pillars of recovery, noting that long-term stability in conflict-affected regions depends largely on access to quality education, functional infrastructure, and inclusive economic opportunities.

The newly inaugurated facilities include three modern mega schools designed to expand access to quality learning for children in vulnerable communities, as well as major road infrastructure projects aimed at easing movement within Maiduguri metropolis.

The educational facilities include the Government Secondary School Mainusari, the Mega Primary School Maimusari, and the Command Secondary School Maiduguri, all equipped with modern classrooms, learning materials, and student support facilities.

The infrastructure component of the project covers the West End flyover bridge and three major dual carriageway roads spanning Sultan Mainalari, Bursari, and Shehu Sanda Kura corridors. State officials say the roads will improve traffic flow, boost commerce, and enhance security surveillance within the city.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Zulum said his administration is deliberately investing in education as a strategic tool for social transformation. He explained that decades of insurgency had severely damaged school infrastructure and disrupted learning for millions of children.

He disclosed that more than 5,000 classrooms were destroyed during the conflict, displacing thousands of students. To address the challenge, the state government has embarked on massive reconstruction efforts, building new schools while rehabilitating damaged facilities across rural and urban communities.

The governor also highlighted several social intervention programmes aimed at supporting students’ retention in school. These include the distribution of millions of exercise books and textbooks, provision of school uniforms and learning bags, and the expansion of school feeding programmes targeting thousands of pupils annually.

Zulum further stated that vocational and technical education has been prioritised to address youth unemployment. According to him, the state has established multiple vocational training institutes and entrepreneurship schools for women and youth, designed to promote skills acquisition and small business development.

Community leaders, education stakeholders, and development partners attending the event described the projects as a confidence-building step for displaced communities gradually returning to normal life after years of instability.

Observers say the growing partnership between Borno State and international development organisations signals stronger support for recovery, governance reforms, and sustainable growth in the North-East region.

Zulum Unveils Infrastructure Push as World Bank Reaffirms Development Support for Borno

NESREA Seals Abuja Quarry After Death of 10-Year-Old

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has shut down Dai Jin Jia Quarry located in ACO Village along Airport Road, Abuja, following the tragic death of a 10-year-old boy during a blasting operation.

The incident, which occurred on Friday, February 27, 2026, prompted immediate intervention by the agency after it received reports of the fatality linked to activities at the quarry site.

Addressing journalists, the Director of Environmental Quality Control, Mr. Elijah Udofia, who spoke on behalf of the Director-General, Prof. Innocent Barikor, described the development as deeply troubling. He revealed that the facility had previously been sealed by NESREA last year for regulatory breaches but allegedly continued operations in defiance of enforcement directives.

According to him, the agency’s preliminary investigation—conducted alongside officers from the ACO Division of the Nigeria Police—uncovered serious regulatory violations. He stated that the quarry failed to present a documented Blasting Operation Plan and could not provide records of its Charge Load Density (CLD), which details the quantity of explosives used during blasting. These lapses, he noted, constitute violations of Regulation 23 of the National Environmental (Quarrying and Blasting Operations) Regulations, 2013.

Udofia further disclosed that the facility’s warning alarm system, which is required to alert surrounding residents before blasting activities, was found to be faulty at the time of inspection. He emphasized that the absence of such a critical safety measure may have contributed to the tragic outcome.

“It is distressing that despite prior warnings and enforcement actions, the company continued operations in ways that endanger lives and contravene national environmental laws,” he said, adding that the quarry has now been sealed again pending the outcome of a full investigation.

NESREA assured the public that all responsible parties would be held accountable in accordance with the law. The agency also reiterated its commitment to safeguarding host communities and ensuring strict compliance with environmental standards across the country.

The enforcement body called on operators within the quarrying sector and other industries to strictly adhere to national environmental regulations, warning that negligence and non-compliance will attract decisive sanctions.

The agency stressed that protecting lives, communities, and the

NESREA Seals Abuja Quarry After Death of 10-Year-Old

Bandits attack Kagarko community, injure one, abduct several

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have attacked Janjala Village in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, injuring one person and abducting an unspecified number of residents.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on March 2 when the assailants stormed the village and began shooting sporadically.

According to the source, two residents of the community, Yusuf Abdulwahab and Idris Ahmed, later reported the incident at the divisional headquarters in Kagarko, bringing along a victim identified as Shamsu Adamu, 25, who sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach.

“The victim was immediately rushed to the General Hospital, Kagarko, for medical attention,” the source said.

The attackers were said to have abducted an unspecified number of persons during the invasion and taken them to an unknown destination.

Following the report, a joint security team, in collaboration with other agencies and local vigilante groups, was mobilised to the area.

“The bushes around the community were combed in an effort to rescue the kidnapped victims and apprehend the perpetrators,” the source added.

Efforts to track the assailants and secure the safe release of those abducted are ongoing.

Bandits attack Kagarko community, injure one, abduct several