Spotlight, as aired on June 23, 2024.
Since his assumption of office in 2019, Governor Babagana Zulum has made significant strides in addressing Borno State’s infrastructure deficit. In the last five years, his administration has cumulatively accomplished not fewer than 1,195 developmental projects, policies, and people-oriented capital-intensive programmes.
During his first term from May 29, 2019, to May 29, 2023, Governor Babagana Zulum delivered a total of 957 projects, programmes, and policies. In the first year of his second term, he completed 238 projects, including 220 capital projects and 18 capital-intensive programs and policies. These initiatives spanned 13 sectors, including housing, energy, transportation, and other critical areas.
In the area of housing, thousands of new homes have been constructed and allocated to displaced persons, civil servants, and low-income families. These homes are equipped with essential amenities and are designed to provide dignified living conditions for the beneficiaries. In the last one year, Zulum’s administration constructed two separate estates, comprising 500 units of 2-bedrooms along Kano Road and 72-units of 3-bedroom flats with road networks adjacent to Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, in addition to resettlement houses at Konduga, Nguro-Soye, Dikwa, among others.
In the realm of infrastructure, Zulum’s administration embarked on an ambitious project to rehabilitate and expand the state’s road network. Major highways and rural roads were resurfaced, expanding connectivity and improving transportation for both commercial and personal use. Additionally, the governor constructed a second flyover, an underpass, and a pedestrian bridge, while the third flyover is under construction. The construction of 32.77 km of urban and rural roads, including dual carriageways, drainage systems, and road networks, is underway.
On the energy front, Governor Zulum has prioritized the expansion of power generation and distribution in Borno state. Through strategic partnerships, the state has seen the installation of new solar power plants and the rehabilitation of existing grid infrastructure.
This has led to improved electricity access for households and businesses, enhancing economic activities and quality of life for the people, particularly in the rural areas. The Zulum administration rehabilitated six rural and urban electrification projects; 35 newly completed, including the rehabilitation of Maiduguri-Mafa and Maiduguri- Dasuman inter-town connection, electrification of Chongom, Kuba, Limanti, Sangayari, Tashan Itace and Tashan Tsamiya in Bayo Local Government, and rehabilitation of Maiduguri- Benishiekh, Ngamdu inter-town connection. Others include rehabilitation of Mafa-Dikwa 33KV line, Gubio-Damasak inter-town connection, and Damasak town distribution network, as well as the electrification of 500 housing units along Maiduguri-Kano Road.
These efforts by the Zulum administration demonstrate a commitment to improving the living standards and overall development of Borno state. By addressing the critical areas of housing, infrastructure, and energy, the governor is paving the way for a more prosperous and resilient future for the people of Borno. Indeed, people in the state should expect to see more progress in these key areas, with the ultimate goal of transforming it into a thriving, self-sufficient, and livable environment for all its citizens.
This is the sixth in a series of spotlights as written by Baba Shiekh Haruna, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor and edited by Annabel Nwachukwu.
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