News

Why Zulum dropped his Commissioner of Environment and Intergovernmental affairs from his cabinet

Published

6 months ago

August 2, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Why Zulum dropped his Commissioner of Environment and Intergovernmental affairs from his cabinet

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Sketchy details have started trickling into the mills on possible reasons why Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state may have suddenly dropped his Commissioner of Environment Emat Kois and intergovernmental affairs and special duties Tukur Ibrahim from his cabinet.

Even though sketchy, environmental watchers say they are not surprised that Engineer Kois was specifically dropped because he was not meeting up to the expectations of such a massive and important ministry that has to do with the well being of residents.

Sources close to the Government House in Maiduguri told this reporter that the Governor is obviously not happy with the state of the Maiduguri metropolis in spite of the huge amount of funds pumped into emptying the permanently blocked water ways to allow free flow of flood water whenever it rains.

Residents in the over populated suburbs of the Borno state capital are so used to blocked drainages that they virtually empty their garbage back to the channels even after they have been cleaned up by the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) the agency responsible for the monthly clearing of the drains as it has now become.

One of our sources who wanted anonymity maintained that because the Governor himself is the executive supervisor of most of the environmental projects going on in the state, it was obvious he alone knows how murky the environment ministry may have become and wants to sanitize things.

” In-fact, only the Governor knows why he dropped them though that of the Commissioner for intergovernmental affairs might not be unconnected to low capacity and lack of adequate education, the same reason the House of Assembly initially denied him clearance for. The man is just unfit to be a Commissioner but he got there obviously by patronage of the party system but thank God he is out.

” Issues of flooding cannot also be overruled and perhaps his inadequate efforts at the sensitivity of tree planting and carefree attempts on climate change activities might be involved. Kois has two well funded parastatals under him, BOSEPA and the great green wall Agency.” He hinted

Our source who doesn’t want to be mentioned equally posited that with the notion flying around that there is always too much funds flying around the environment sector, clash over funding somewhere may also not be ruled out as a major catalyst for the Governor to take such a sudden decision.

Another source equally noted that a lot has been going on around that ministry but a lot of jobs that are supposed to have manifested positive results on the people are not being felt by the people two years into the second term of the Governor.

” Take it from me, the man Kois is his colleague. So he had high expectations from him as an engineer. Within two years the state capital has not improved in terms of flood especially around areas where it is caused by accumulated garbage. One wonders what is happening to the flood committee which he is supposed to ginger to bring out solutions.

” The fact that most of the drainage systems in the town are blocked and BOSEPA is not able to clear it is itself a challenge. We have watched the appointment of a new management in BoSEPA but in spite of this, nothing has changed in their modus operandi. People try their best to clean up their drainage systems but BOSEPA is hardly able to meet up the challenges of the various wards of the capital.

” Remember we have just come out of one massive flood in the town as a result of the collapse of the Auno dam. That incident is so painful to his excellency that he does not want to hear that floods from rain water are again threatening residents. This is a problem that should have been sorted out by the Commissioner of Environment without waiting for the Governor to tell him what to do.

” He has virtually being unable to catch up with the expected speed of the Governor as such is found wanton by those who assist the Governor to assess their performances in the management of the environment of the capital not to talk about the flood that affected Chibok Damboa and Biu council areas of the state in which some souls perished in the floods ” He maintained.

At least two people died in the recent floods in the Gumsuri and Wovi communities of Damboa council area of the state. The floods were triggered by a heavy downpour which displaced many residents and caused widespread devastation.

A recent statement from the government had said that Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, had relieved two Commissioners of their appointments to revitalize governance and enhance service delivery.

This sack was contained in a statement released by the Governor’s spokesperson, Dauda Iliya recently with the massive floods plaguing the state capital.

The officials affected are the Commissioners for Environment Emat Kois and Tukur Ibrahim Intergovernmental and Special Duties who would be replaced by
Engr. Mohammed Habib and Ibrahim Hala Hassan pending clearance by the state Assembly.

Residents want Government Intervention in Pompomari Housing Estate, Maiduguri, Due to Flooding Crisis

Meanwhile some concerned residents of Pompomari Housing Estate, in Maiduguri, have called on the managers of the Borno Geographic information Service (BOGIS) to urgently intervene in easing the blockages disturbing free flow of flood water from their environment.

They regretted that many residents in the estate have built unapproved obstructions along the routes of flood water making it à bit difficult for the water to find its way out whenever it rains.

They equally directed their distress call to the Borno State Government and relevant agencies like BOSEPA to urgently intervene in the worsening flood situation that has engulfed parts of their community making life miserable for them to exist peacefully.

This flooding, which has already started wreaking havoc at the onset of the rainy season, “is primarily caused by the negligent actions of certain self-centred individuals who have built residential and commercial structures directly on critical drainage channels and reservoirs within the estate.

“The unchecked and unauthorized construction on natural water paths and government-designated reservoir spaces has obstructed the free flow of stormwater, leading to overflow and repeated flooding. ” they noted.

“As a result of the flood, many homes, roads, and public spaces are at risk of being affected, with the situation deteriorating by the day,” said one of the residents, Mallam Usman.

The peace-loving and law-abiding residents of the estate are deeply concerned that if urgent and decisive government action is not taken, the area may face a full-blown environmental and humanitarian disaster.

The flooding threatens not only property but also the health and safety of families, children, and the elderly living in the estate.

” We are therefore appealing to BOGIS to urgently investigate and identify all illegal structures obstructing drainage channels flowing in the area.

” We call on the State Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning department to mobilize immediately to the area and begin desilting and restoration of the blocked drainages which are the foundation of these unwarranted floods..

” This is a preventable crisis that must not be ignored. The community is not asking for charity but for the enforcement of existing laws, planning regulations, and protection of public infrastructure. We believe that with swift intervention, this situation can be controlled before the rains peak and lives are endangered. “

Why Zulum dropped his Commissioner of Environment and Intergovernmental affairs from his cabinet

News

80 militants surrender arms, embrace amnesty in Cross River

Published

20 hours ago

January 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

80 militants surrender arms, embrace amnesty in Cross River

By: Zagazola Makama

No fewer than 80 militants operating in the creeks of Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State have voluntarily surrendered their arms and embraced the state government’s peace and reintegration Amnesty framework.

The militants came out in large numbers from the creeks on Friday at Atimbo Rear Area under Operation OKWOK, within the Area of Responsibility of Headquarters 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army and is already being described by as a strategic breakthrough in the fight against coastal militancy and maritime crime in southern Cross River.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the surrender was the outcome of months of sustained military pressure combined with discreet dialogue involving community leaders, government officials and security agencies.

Two militant camps dismantled themselves in one coordinated move. The first camp, headed by ThankGod Ebikontei, popularly known as Ayibanuagha, presented 39 fighters. Four additional members, officials said, are expected to report in the coming days.

The second camp, commanded by John Isaac, alias Akpokolo, brought forward 41 fighters. His group, widely known along the waterways as the Akpokolo Marine Forces or “Border Boys,” had controlled large stretches of creeks linking Cross River to neighbouring coastal corridors.

Ten more of his fighters are also expected to join the amnesty process. In total, 80 militants formally stepped out of the creeks and into a state-supervised disarmament and rehabilitation programme.

The disarmament was not symbolic. A significant cache of weapons, equipment and operational assets was voluntarily handed over, illustrating the firepower the groups once commanded.

The sources said that items surrendered included AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, a Mark 4 rifle, a G3 rifle, multiple single-barrel guns, magazines, speedboats, high-powered boat engines, locally fabricated pistols and assorted military kits.

Of particular concern to security officials was the surrender of an explosive charge and live ammunition, which draw to the attention of the destructive capacity the groups had at their disposal. Also surrendered were machetes, camouflage clothing, tactical vests, knee and elbow guards, and communication tools, all of which painted a picture of organised armed groups rather than loosely structured criminal gangs.

For the Nigerian Army, the scale and quality of the surrendered items confirmed that the amnesty was reaching core actors, not just foot soldiers.

Brig.-Gen. P.O. Alimikhena, Commander of 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, described the development as a “confidence-building milestone” that validates the military’s dual-track strategy.

“This voluntary surrender shows that consistent operations, combined with constructive dialogue and strong collaboration with the Cross River State Government and other security agencies, can deliver peace,” Alimikhena said.

“We will continue to secure the environment while supporting lawful initiatives that reintegrate repentant youths and ensure lasting stability.”he said.

Military sources said the success in Akpabuyo followed intensified patrols, improved intelligence flow and engagement with local power structures in creek communities.

After the formal disarmament, the former militants were handed over to the Cross River State Government’s Rapid Response Team.
They are currently undergoing profiling by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Muka Sam Hotel in Ikot Ansa, Calabar.

The exercise is designed to verify identities, assess security risks and determine eligibility for rehabilitation, skills training and reintegration support. Officials said the profiling phase is crucial to ensuring that only genuine repentant militants benefit from the programme and that criminal elements do not exploit the amnesty.

Akpabuyo Local Government Area sits along a strategic maritime corridor that links Cross River’s inland communities to coastal and cross-border trading routes. For years, militancy in the area has affected fishing, boat transport, palm produce trade and cross-border commerce with Cameroon.

Sea robbery, illegal taxation of fishermen, extortion and violent turf battles turned the creeks into zones of fear. The collective withdrawal of two major camps in one day is therefore both a psychological and operational shift. It sends a signal that militancy is no longer the dominant survival strategy for youths in the area.

The Nigerian Army credited the success of the Akpabuyo amnesty to what it called “effective civil-military collaboration,” singling out the Cross River State Government under Gov. Bassey Edet Otu for sustained political backing, coordination and logistical support.

Sources said the state government’s willingness to invest in dialogue, rehabilitation and youth empowerment made the option of peace more attractive than continued life in the creeks.

Beyond the powerful images of surrendered weapons and surrendered men, officials insist the hardest phase lies ahead. Reintegration, monitoring and economic re-engagement will determine whether the peace holds or unravels.

Headquarters 13 Brigade has reaffirmed its commitment to consolidating the gains, warning that while the door to peace remains open, security forces will maintain pressure against any group that chooses violence over dialogue.

They has urged the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that the breakthrough in Akpabuyo is not an endpoint, but the foundation for a safer and more stable Cross River State.

80 militants surrender arms, embrace amnesty in Cross River

News

Zulum Dismisses Claims of Favoring Candidates for APC Congress

Published

1 day ago

January 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Zulum Dismisses Claims of Favoring Candidates for APC Congress

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has firmly dismissed rumours circulating that he has anointed individuals for executive positions in the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) party congresses.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, the Governor described the claims as the handiwork of mischief-makers seeking to cause disaffection within the party.

Governor Zulum emphasised that he has not in any fora endorsed any candidate for any party position, whether in Gwoza Local Government Area or any of the state’s 27 local government areas.

“Let me categorically state that I have not anointed any person for the position of Chairman or Secretary of APC in Gwoza local government in the forthcoming party congress. I wish to also stress that I have not anointed any person for any position in the APC congress in any of the 27 local government areas,” Governor Zulum stated.

He further called on party members to disregard the false information, saying, “I am calling on our party faithful and supporters to disregard the rumour as it is a calculated attempt to create disaffection and derail the party from its trajectory.”

The Governor instead urged party stakeholders to continue constructive consultations aimed at identifying credible candidates to be fielded for all party positions.

Zulum Dismisses Claims of Favoring Candidates for APC Congress

News

VP Shettima Arrives In Guinea For President Doumbouya’s Inauguration

Published

1 day ago

January 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

VP Shettima Arrives In Guinea For President Doumbouya’s Inauguration

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of President-elect Mamady Doumbouya.

The Vice President was received by senior Guinean government officials and members of the Nigerian diplomatic corps ahead of the official ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 17, at the GLC Stadium in Nongo.

The inauguration of President Doumbouya follows his victory in the December 2025 general elections, signalling the formal end of a four-year military transition.

The Vice President’s attendance at the inauguration affirms Nigeria’s leadership role within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its commitment to the restoration of constitutional order across the sub-region.

Under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, Nigeria has continued to position itself as a stabilising force, advocating for democratic governance as a prerequisite for regional prosperity.