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  • 95% of Borno protesters underage – Zulum

    95% of Borno protesters underage – Zulum

    Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has alleged that 95 per cent of the youths that participated in Thursday’s violent protests in Maiduguri were children under 14 years.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zulum made this known in a broadcast to the people of Borno where he also declared the lifting of the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state.

    Zulum said: “Over 95 per cent of those who participated in the so-called Thursday protests were children under 14 years. Most of them do not know why they are protesting.

    “A six-year-old child carrying a placard is amazing; he must have been directed by someone. Most of those children are not from Borno.

    Read Also: 95% of Borno protesters underaged – Zulum 

    “While we are not discouraging the Almajiri education, we must however have their teachers or guardians looking after them.”

    Zulum said that a situation where thousands of children were living in Maiduguri in the name of Almajiri without care from anyone needed to be looked into.

    He said that some of the actions of the hoodlums that hijacked the Maiduguri protests included the destruction and looting of public properties including hospitals.

    “In what could have been a major disaster, attempts were made by the hoodlums on several occasions to attack the Maiduguri Emergency Power Gas Plant, however, it was averted by our gallant security forces..

    “Violence has no place in our society and I implore citizens to reject any call to arms or act of aggression.

    “As we lift the curfew on Saturday, any person that engages in looting and violent activities will be dealt with accordingly,” Zulum said.

    He reiterated the commitment of his administration to positively transform the state, citing interventions in various sectors, particularly infrastructure, health and education.

    Zulum said: “We have distributed rounds of food and non food items palliatives within Maiduguri and other LGAs, scaled up our support to farmers through sales of fertiliser, and provided seeds and farm inputs to enhance food production. We want to also invest in irrigation agriculture and livestock development.”

  • 95% of Borno protesters underaged – Zulum 

    95% of Borno protesters underaged – Zulum 

    Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has alleged that 95 per cent of the youths that participated in Thursday’s violent protests in Maiduguri were children under 14 years.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zulum made this known in a broadcast to the people of Borno where he also declared the lifting of the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state.

    Zulum said: “Over 95 per cent of those who participated in the so-called Thursday protests were children under 14 years. Most of them do not know why they are protesting.

    “A six- year-old child carrying a placard is amazing; he must have been directed by someone. Most of those children are not from Borno.

    “While we are not discouraging the Almajiri education, we must however have their teachers or guardians looking after them.”

    Zulum said that a situation where thousands of children were living in Maiduguri in the name of Almajiri without care from anyone needed to be looked into.

    He said that some of the actions of the hoodlums that hijacked the Maiduguri protests included the destruction and looting of public properties including hospitals.

    “In what could have been a major disaster, attempts were made by the hoodlums on several occasions to attack the Maiduguri Emergency Power Gas Plant, however, it was averted by our gallant security forces..

    “Violence has no place in our society and I implore citizens to reject any call to arms or act of aggression.

    Read Also: Zulum appoints new DG for Borno Mining Agency

    “As we lift the curfew on Saturday, any person that engages in looting and violent activities will be dealt with accordingly,” Zulum said.

    He reiterated the commitment of his administration to positively transform the state, citing interventions in various sectors, particularly infrastructure, health and education.

    Zulum said: “We have distributed rounds of food and non food items palliatives within Maiduguri and other LGAs, scaled up our support to farmers through sales of fertiliser, and provided seeds and farm inputs to enhance food production.

    “We want to also invest in irrigation agriculture and livestock development. ” 

    (NAN)

  • Zulum appoints new DG for Borno Mining Agency

    Zulum appoints new DG for Borno Mining Agency

    Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has approved the appointment of Malam Aminu Chamalwa, as the Director-General of the newly created Borno State Mining Agency (BOSMA).

    This is contained in a statement in Maiduguri by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar.

    The appointment, the government said, is with immediate effect. 

    Chamalwa, who is a geologist is expected to bring his over 35 years of cognate experience in civil service to the job. 

    “The governor urged the newly appointed DG to justify the confidence reposed in him, and work assiduously to reposition the mining sector in Born,” Tar said.

    Read Also: Zulum rallies Northeast governors to address rising cost of living in region

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Chamalwa, a native of Biu Local Government Area, previously served as the Deputy Director (Hydrology) at the Borno Ministry of Water Resources from 2009-2018 and most recently as the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the same ministry.

    A geologist by training, Chamalwa earned his degree in Geology from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1996.

    He is a member of the National Association of Hydrogeologists (MNAH) and the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS).

    NAN reports that Borno has Feldspar, Limestone, Kaolin, Clay, Potash, Iron-Ore, Natural Salt, Quartz, Magnetite, Diatomite, Trona, Mica, Silica Sand, Gypsum, Granite Chips, Flutters Earth and Uranium. 

    (NAN)

  • Zulum rallies Northeast governors to address rising cost of living in region

    Zulum rallies Northeast governors to address rising cost of living in region

    Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has declared that palliative measures implemented by the Federal and State Governments are not a permanent solution to the rising cost of living in the country.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 10th Edition of the North-East Governors’ Forum meeting on Friday in Bauchi, Zulum, who chairs the Forum, urged the governors to harmonize their state development programmes and policies to promote sustainable social and economic development in the region.

    Highlighting the region’s agricultural potential, Zulum called for increased efforts to attract investors to support the region’s export drive.

    His words “We need to commit our self-sufficiency in food and agricultural raw materials, and the social transformation of the sector will remain unshaken,” he said.

    “We need to vigorously pursue industrial development programmes that will leverage local resources and encourage small and medium-scale businesses. With the rising cost of food, it is imperative to revive the economic condition of our sub-region because palliative measures are not a permanent solution,” Zulum added

    In his address, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, noted that the Federal Government policies aimed at restructuring the economy have fueled inflation, particularly affecting transportation and food prices.

    Read Also: Tinubu’s intervention made 2024 Hajj possible, says NAHCON Chairman

    “These measures by both the federal and state governments, while helpful, are temporary. In the long run, governments must incentivize individuals for self-reliance and sustainable growth,” Mohammed said during the opening ceremony of the Forum.

    Mohammed also reiterated the need for a Regional Master Plan for economic rejuvenation with realistic timelines, urging member states to take advantage of beneficial policies and facilities within the region, such as the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy.

    “Through the efforts of our chairman, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Northeast Governors’ Forum has grown stronger as a nonpartisan platform for addressing issues of common interest and survival within Nigeria. I salute our chairman’s exemplary leadership,” Mohammed added.

    Nation reports that other governors present at the forum are;  Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa state and Agbu Kefas of Taraba state.

  • Zulum approves employment of 15 persons with disabilities

    Zulum approves employment of 15 persons with disabilities

    Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, has approved the automatic employment of 15 persons living with disability, who have undergone formal educational system and obtained degree certificates, NCE, diploma and vocational training certificates.

    The governor gave the approval in Maiduguri on Saturday at the Government House when he met with members of the Association of People Living with Disability.

    “I am delighted to note that despite your disability, you people are not lazy; you decided to pursue your education, and for this, I want to commend you.

    “I directed the Commissioner of Education to process your application for employment for my approval immediately. Therefore, I want to bring to your kind notice that you should be on the payroll of Borno Government effective 1st May, 2024,” he said.

    Read Also: Lagos shuts churches, bars, hotels over noise pollution

    The Governor directed the Commissioner of Education, Lawan Abba-Wakilbe to review the activities of all the blind schools in Borno  in order to train more people with disabilities.

    Zulum also ordered the Ministry of Education to work out modalities for introducing the teaching of special education courses at the College of Education in Bama.

    “I am happy that they have obtained their qualifications in different specialisations. Let’s strengthen the College of Education in Bama to start delivering courses on special education,” Zulum said.

    Earlier, Alhaji Muhammed Mustapha, Borno Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Association of the Blind, expressed gratitude to Zulum for approving employment for his members.

    He thanked him for prioritising efforts toward uplifting the living standards of such persons in the society.

  • Zulum distributes 447 housing units, food items to home-bound IDPs

    Zulum distributes 447 housing units, food items to home-bound IDPs

    Borno State Governor Prof Babagana Zulum has distributed 447 resettlement housing units to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Dalori community in Konduga Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.

    Zulum said Boko Haram insurgents displaced the beneficiaries from their homes, but that government had provided essential humanitarian support for them to return home and to become self-reliant.

    He said the beneficiary households were drawn from two IDP camps – 197 from Kawar Maila camp and 250 from Dalori town.

    He added that each of the 447 households, comprising about 2,500 family members received food items, mats, blankets and clothing materials.

    The governor assured that his administration would provide agricultural kits and entrepreneurship support for the returnees to promote their sustainable livelihoods.

    “It is no longer sustainable to keep people in the IDP camps; we want people to be responsible members in their various communities and to contribute to the development of the state.

    Read Also: 65 CSOs pull out from planned Labour’s nationwide protest

    `We are returning them to their ancestral homes so they can start fending for themselves,’’ Zulum said.

    The governor noted that all official IDP camps in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and its environs had been closed since 2023 and assured that all informal camps in Maiduguri would be closed before May 29.

    “We have started the closure of all informal IDP camps in Maiduguri and we shall close all of them before May 29,’’ Zulum assured.

  • Economic hardship: Gov Zulum declares 1 day prayer session

    Economic hardship: Gov Zulum declares 1 day prayer session

    Gov. Babagana Zulum has urged citizens of the state to fast and offer special prayers on Monday as done in the past for divine intervention over the current hardship caused by inflation.

    Zulum in his broadcast to the people of the state implored traditional rulers, clerics and citizens to observe a one day voluntary fast on Monday for peace, prosperity and the development of the state.

    “I am deeply troubled by the recent hardships faced by our citizens, particularly the high cost of food items.

    “I understand the burden that this places on families and individuals, and I want to assure you that we are taking decisive steps to alleviate this issue.

    Our government is focusing on reviving agriculture in the state, intending to increase food production and reduce our reliance on food palliative.

    “We are investing in modern farming techniques, providing support to local farmers, and creating incentives for agricultural innovation. By doing so, we hope to not only lower the cost of food items but also to create sustainable livelihoods for our people,” Zulum said.

    He commended the Federal Government for its sustained support in the fight against insurgency and the development of our state.

    The governor also expressed my gratitude to security forces and volunteers for the sacrifices they are making to safeguard  lives in the state and create a peaceful society for prosperity and development.

    He said that his administration was engaged with stakeholders particularly those in the business of essential commodities that include all forms of grains and building materials and had taken far-reaching decisions to mitigate the rising cost of the essential goods.

    “In addition to our efforts in agriculture, we are also working on increasing the distribution of palliatives especially for residents in Maiduguri Metropolitan and Jere.

    Read Also: Zulum inaugurates remodeled market to boost trans-border trade

    “As your Governor I want to assure you that we will continue to improve healthcare service delivery, education and water supply,” Zulum said.

    He lamented the recent incidents mines on major roads in the state, adding that those engaged in the dastardly to sabotage government would not succeed.

    “I want to assure you that we are working tirelessly with security forces to rid our roads of these deadly devices and to ensure the safety of all those who travel within our state.

    “I believe there are forces behind sabotaging the gains recorded so far. However, we are working to ensure the perpetrators are fished out and dealt with accordingly,” Zulum said. (NAN)

  • Zulum inaugurates remodeled market to boost trans-border trade

    Zulum inaugurates remodeled market to boost trans-border trade

    Borno State Governor Prof Babagana Zulum has said the newly remodeled Banki international market will enhance Trans-border trade and contribute to the economy of both Nigeria and Cameroon.

    Zulum made this known while inaugurating the market which was destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents.

    NAN reports that the  market which comprises 128 shops and about 440 market stalls is located around the border with Cameroon.

    The Banki cattle market which was the largest in Lake Chad before it was deserted due to Boko Haram activities will be remodelled to meet international standards.

    Marketers from Chad, Central Africa Republic and Cameroon boycotted the border market since the escalation of the crisis and the insurgents taking over Banki and other communities.

    Zulum said the market was equipped with modern facilities such as water and sanitation noting that it will accommodate traders, stimulate economic activities and create employment opportunities for residents most of whom are affected by Boko Haram conflict

    The governor noted that he would liaise with his colleague, the governor of the Far North Region of Cameroon Republic to reopen the international cattle route previously used for the supply of cattle from neighbouring countries.

    Read Also: Zulum doles out cash, food to volunteers fighting Boko Haram

    Zulum also laid the foundation for the construction of a new international market dedicated to cattle businesses in Banki town.

    “Recently, we completed the construction of a cattle market in Gamboru Ngala. We will ensure the prompt release of funds for the building of an international cattle market project and I believe it will be completed in 90 days.” he said.

    He urged the authorities in Cameroon to join him in promoting trans-border trade and called for the creation of more avenues for international students’ exchange.

    The governor also commissioned five units of two-bedroom bungalows to address accommodation problems for teachers and enhance teaching and learning.

    NAN reports that the event was attended by the Governor of the Far North Region of Cameroon, Bakari Mjinyawa, the Shehu of Bama, Umar Shehu-Kyari, members of the House of Representatives, and House of Assembly members among other senior government officials.

  • Zulum doles out cash, food to volunteers fighting Boko Haram

    Zulum doles out cash, food to volunteers fighting Boko Haram

    Borno State Governor Prof Babagana Zulum has doled out cash and food items to 810 volunteers fighting Boko Haram alongside the military and other security agencies in Bama Local Government Area of the state.

    Zulum gave out the package yesterday at the Palace of the Shehu of Bama, Umar Shehu-Kyari.

    The governor extolled the volunteers for their sacrifices and commitment to defending the state and assured them of government continuous support.

    He said that the gesture was to encourage the volunteers to keep pushing for the the return of total peace and security across the state.

    Read Also: Wike to Abuja residents: no going back on outstanding ground rent

    “We are aware of the enormous efforts you put into complementing the military in the fight against insurgency and other forms of criminality, we commend you and urge you to continue to be dedicated,” he said.

    Zulum assured that the government would never relent in extending support to them.

    ”Your welfare is of high priority to us, we will not leave you, be assured that the government will always be with you,” the governor added.

    Zulum said the government and people of the state were grateful to the volunteers for their sacrifices in complementing the military and other security forces in the fight against insurgency.

  • Zulum distributes N225m food items to families in Bama

    Zulum distributes N225m food items to families in Bama

    Borno State Governor Prof Babagana Zulum has distributed food items worth N225 million to over 70,000 vulnerable families in Bama Local Government Area of the state.

    Speaking at the distribution ceremony yesterday, Zulum said the distribution of the foodstuffs and cash was to assist communities affected by insurgents and families struggling for livelihood.

    Read Also: First Lady, Fagbemi, Marwa advise states on drug use prevention, treatment

    According to him, the gesture is also to prevent the victims from being recruited into insurgent groups.

    “Also, it is in continuation of our efforts to provide assistance to the less privileged in Bama tha was severely affected by Boko Haram violence and limited livelihood,” Zulum said.

    A total of 45,000 females received N5000 cash and one wrapper each, while each household received N25, 000 with a bag of rice and maize grain.