Zulum: palliative distribution a necessity, not my priority

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, said his administration’s frequent distribution of food palliatives was necessary to strike a balance between addressing the immediate needs of the people affected by Boko Haram insurgency and laying the groundwork for a lasting change.

Zulum noted that while food palliatives were distributed to vulnerable people most affected by the over-one-decade crisis, remarkable development has been achieved in all the critical sectors such as healthcare, education, security and infrastructure in Borno State.

Governor Zulum stated that the palliative distribution was to salvage communities whose sources of livelihood were cut off due to the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.

Zulum made the remarks on Saturday while speaking to journalists in Gajiram, Nganzai Local Government Council, in the northern part of the state.

Zulum emphasised the need to establish a sustainable foundation for long-term development rather than relying on short-term solutions like palliative distribution.

“We are not creating dependency. You can see our efforts in reviving the agricultural sector. People should take note that what we are doing is necessary. We only give food items in places extremely affected by insurgency and gradually, we are transiting out,” Zulum said.

Meanwhile, the governor supervised the distribution of food and non-food items and N25m cash to over 25,000 families comprising 10,000 males and 15,000 females.

Each of the male heads of households received a bag of rice and a bag of maize grain, while about 15,000 families each received one wrapper and N5,000 cash.

Zulum commended the federal government, noting that Borno has received about 15,000 bags of rice from the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

“Let me acknowledge the receipt of about 15,000 bags of rice from the North East Development Commission (NEDC). The rice we distribute here is part of the donation, while Borno State Government donated the maize, wrappers and cash,” Zulum said.

The governor also stated, “I wish to extend our sincere gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the management of NEDC for the support.”

Governor Zulum was assisted in the distribution exercise by the Hon. member representing Nganzai at the House of Representatives, Engr Bukar Talba, Member, House of Assembly representing Nganzai, Sheikh Ali Gajiram, Honourable Commissioners Sugun Mai Mele and Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, Special advisers and other top government officials.

Zulum: palliative distribution a necessity, not my priority

Zulum Approves N1.3bn Scholarship for 997 Nursing, Midwifery Students in Borno

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has approved N1.3 billion scholarship for 997 nursing and midwifery students who are indigenes of the state.

According to a statement on Wednesday, the scholarship programme received about 1,080 nominations, 40 from each of the 27 local government areas of the state, but after an entrance examination, 997 applicants passed and qualified to benefit from the scholarship.

Zulum, while launching the scholarship programme on Wednesday at the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Maiduguri, noted that with the scholarship, the beneficiaries would, on graduation, bridge the workforce demands in the state’s healthcare service delivery due to the increasing population growth.

He said: “The government has allocated a total of ₦1,305,189,000 for scholarships, with a breakdown of ₦124,149,000 earmarked for tuition fees.

“The remaining ₦1,181,040,000 will be disbursed as a monthly stipend of ₦30,000 to each beneficiary throughout their studies.”

Zulum further stated that his administration was constructing two colleges of nursing, one in the northern part of the state and the other one in the southern part.

He assured that the two colleges would be completed and opened for academic activities this year.

Highlighting the government’s efforts, the Commissioner for Education, Engineer Lawan Wakilbe, disclosed that from May 29, 2019 to date, Zulum’s administration had approved over N6 billion for scholarship with N2.7 billion of that amount approved from May 29, 2023 to date.

Meanwhile, the governor has awarded N201 million bursary allowance to 2,010 students of the Maiduguri College of Nursing who had not benefited from the scholarship.

The governor directed that each of the 2,010 nursing and midwifery students be credited with the bursary allowance of N100,000.

Zulum also commissioned a lecture theatre complex and a 3,000 people-capacity multipurpose hall for the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Maiduguri.

The governor also announced automatic employment for the 997 beneficiaries and other nursing students who had excelled academically, on completion of their studies.

In a related development, the Nursing Council of Nigeria (NCN) has commended Borno State for his commitment to improving nursing practice in the state, noting that the scholarship awarded by the governor on Wednesday was the first of its kind and so far the largest in Nigeria.

The Registrar of the Council, Dr Farouk Umar Abubakar, who was represented by the Director of Standard and Accreditation, Alhassan Ndagi, gave the commendation while delivering a goodwill message at the flag-off of the N1.3 billion scholarship for nursing and midwifery students in Maiduguri.

The register applauded the performance of the nursing students from Borno, stating that every year at the national examinations, students from Borno score more than 90 percent.

Zulum Approves N1.3bn Scholarship for 997 Nursing, Midwifery Students in Borno

Army rescues another Chibok girl, Lydia Simon in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Another Chibok girl, Lydia Simon, has been rescued by troops of Operstion Desert Sanity III, North East Operation Hadin Kai.

She was rescued along with her three children by the troops of 82 Division Task Force Battalion in Ngoza LGA, on Wednesday April 17, 2024.

Intelligence Sources told Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region, that Lydia who was on serial number 68 among the abducted missing girls escaped from the camp of Ali Ngulde in Mandara Mountain where she was held in captivity for several years

She surrendered to troops of 82 Division Task Force Battalion at Ngoshe in Gwoza LGA. The rescued Chibok girl was five months pregnant and claimed she was from Pemi Town in Chibok.

April 14, marks the 10th anniversary of the violent abduction of 276 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents.

While 57 of the girls escaped from their captors in the following days, 16 were later rescued and 107 have at different times been released through negotiations.

The Federal government, state and the Nigerian Army have pledged its commitment toward rescuing the rest of the abducted girls that are still held in captivity by the terrorists.

Army rescues another Chibok girl, Lydia Simon in Borno