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Tag: Zulum

  • ‘This polytechnic is dead’, Gov Zulum suspends Alma mata management after discovering cobwebs, rodents in laboratories during surprise visit

    ‘This polytechnic is dead’, Gov Zulum suspends Alma mata management after discovering cobwebs, rodents in laboratories during surprise visit

    Governor of Borno of State Professor Babagana Zulum has suspended the entire management of the state-owned Ramat Polytechnic in Maiduguri, for a period of six months.

    The suspension came after the governor, who was a student of the Polytechnic between 1986 to 1988, unexpectedly visited the Polytechnic around 9:00 am on Tuesday and found most of the laboratories out of use, with some covered in cobwebs and rodents roaming around due to neglect.

    After assessing all the infrastructure and learning conditions, he directed the state’s Commissioner of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Babagana Mallumbe, to take over the affairs of the school immediately.

    “As far as I am concerned, this Polytechnic is dead. Nothing is working,” he said.

    “The workshops are not in existence, the mechanical workshop is not working, the agricultural workshop is not working, likewise, the entrepreneurship centre is not working. The school is facing myriads of problems, ranging from lack of funding and commitment. As a former student of this polytechnic, a former rector, I have moral stakes in this polytechnic. Insha’Allah, I will not allow this polytechnic to rot during my era as Governor of Borno State. I will do everything possible within my reach to ensure functionality of this institution Insha Allah.

    “I have directed the Commissioner of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation to take over the affairs for the next six months. The ministry is to ensure that all the workshops and the laboratories are put back to use as soon as possible. The entrepreneurship centre should immediately be put back to use as well. When I was at the Polytechnic as a rector, the entrepreneurship centre was producing nothing less than 10,000 to 20,000 school desks and chairs every month. We produced hospital beddings,” Zulum said.

    Thereafter, he held a closed-door meeting with the management of the Polytechnic.

    He also directed the Ministry of Water Resources to drill two deep aquifers boreholes and carry out a complete water channel network within the polytechnic, which is coming after prior interventions he approved for Polytechnic in 2019, to reduce problems of water supply.

    After the meeting, Governor Zulum, while addressing thousands of students at the premises of the polytechnic, assured them that payment of scholarships will commence soon.

    “The verification exercise has just been completed, I want to assure you that as soon as the detailed report is forwarded to me, we will pay your scholarship immediately,” he said.

    The Governor was also at the Federal Secretariat, where enrollment exercises of Batch C N-Power volunteers were being conducted.

    On arrival, he addressed thousands of applicants gathered for the biometric enrollment that will enable them to get monthly stipends from the Federal Government.

    He assured them of the state government’s support despite N-Power being a Federal Government programme.

  • Borno Church Demolition: Gov Zulum visits pastor whose son was killed, says shooter is in police custody

    Borno Church Demolition: Gov Zulum visits pastor whose son was killed, says shooter is in police custody

    Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Tuesday night, visited Pastor Bitrus Tumba, whose son, Ezekiel, died when violence broke out between a demolition task force of Borno Geographic Information Systems (BOGIS), and worshipers at a branch of EYN church in Maiduguri on August 5, 2021.

    The governor was received by the family and some officials of Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by the association’s chairman, Bishop Mohammed Naga.

    Zulum had on the day of the incident sent Borno’s deputy governor, Umar Usman Kadafur, to meet victims of the incident.The governor also invited and met with Christian leaders, led by CAN chairman, Bishop Naga, after which he directed the police to thoroughly investigate the incident and report to him.

    Zulum was scheduled to visit Ezekiel’s family on the day of the incident, but had to abort visit to allow the tensed situation to douse.

    The governor, instead, sent a private delegation to visit the family on his behalf while he worked behind the scene to calm down situations between religious leaders to prevent potential crisis between youths from different faiths.

    At the pastor’s house alongside the deputy governor, Kadafur, Zulum said, “Let me start by apologising for delaying my visit even though I had sent a delegation to explain this to you. We deliberately delayed because of the tension in town. We thought it was not a good time to pay you a visit then. I am here to commiserate with your family over the unfortunate death of our brother, Ezekiel Bitrus. My coming here today, weeks after that very unfortunate and painful incident, is a proof that we have not forgotten the issue.”

    “So far, suspects have been quietly arrested and all those involved in that dastardly act are being detained and God’s willing, they will face justice as soon as the Police complete investigation and make appropriate recommendations. We shall do justice to the matter without fear or favour. We share your pains.

    “No exercise of government is ever aimed to cause injury let alone the death of any citizen. Every person in Borno has equal rights and we have a duty to protect the rights of all persons, top of which is the security of lives. We are pained by what happened and we condole you and your family.

    “Although, I had sent people to you, I was morally and officially duty-bound to visit your family. Please accept our deepest condolences,” Zulum said.

    The governor was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Isa Marte Hussaini, and one of his commissioners, who is a Christian.

    Responding on his family’s behalf, Pastor Tumba expressed appreciation to the governor for the visit, saying he considered Ezekiel’s death as an act of God and the family has accepted same in good faith.

    He added that everyone dies in a different way, and God has destined Ezekiel to die from gunshot which no one could have stopped.

    “Whatever we do, we cannot bring the dead back to life; as true Christians, we have accepted it in good faith. Your Excellency, we express our appreciation to you for the visit, I have followed all your efforts on the death of our son, and we show your concern and the fact that you did not forget us, we really appreciate you,” Pastor Tumba said.

  • Whereabouts of 10 percent of Borno population unknown – Zulum

    Whereabouts of 10 percent of Borno population unknown – Zulum

    Borno Governor Babagana Zulum has disclosed that the whereabouts of no fewer than 10 per cent of the population of the State is unknown as a result of insurgency.

    Zulum, who disclosed this to journalists after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, also said more than 100,000 people have been killed in the last 12 years of the insurgency.

    The Governor, who said he discussed the report of the surrendering of Boko Haram insurgents with the President, further said he did not see any reason why those who surrendered should be rejected.

    Zulum also said there are a total of 2,600 surrendered insurgents now in custody, emphasising that not all of them are criminals.

    He said among those that surrendered were innocent people forcefully conscripted to join the Boko Haram sect while some are teenagers.

    While declaring his total support for the insurgents that have surrendered, he said the Borno government was not contemplating giving the repentant terrorists any dine for them to surrender.

    The Governor, who said he had been attacked by the insurgents for about 50 times, also promised to support victims of the insurgents.

  • Zulum denies sharing governorship mandate with BH/ISWAP terrorists in Borno

    Zulum denies sharing governorship mandate with BH/ISWAP terrorists in Borno

    Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum on Monday debunked claims that terror groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), are in control of parts of the state.

    Professor Zulum spoke to State House Correspondents after a meeting he held with President Muhammadu Buhari on plans to repatriate Nigerians taking refuge in neighbouring countries, among whom are about 200,000 Borno citizens.

    The governor also described recent report that terror groups had appointed a governor over some sections of Borno State as unauthenticated, which he said he had not dignified with an investigation, adding that he is fully in charge of the state.

    On the presence of insurgency in Borno State, Zulum said the phenomenon is not totally vanquished but noted that there is no part or region of the state that can be said to be under the control of terrorists.

    According to him, his administration, in collaboration with the military and other security arms, are still working on ending the menace, but noted that insurgency of the dimension being fought in Nigeria is not easily put out overnight.

    Zulum said: “What I’m saying is that the insurgency is not yet over. That’s the most important thing, but as of now, you cannot point out a particular local government in Borno State that is completely under the control of the insurgents.

    “The fact remains that, I hope you know me very well, I’m saying the right thing, as at now, there is no region or portion of Borno State that you can term as being under insurgents, but the insurgency is not over yet, we are battling with them but their influence has been reduced. We’re looking forward to seeing how we can completely degrade them.

    “You know, such dimensions of insurgency will take a longer period before somebody will say that insurgents are completely eliminated. But I think the federal government is doing well; the military, the para-military, the civilian JTF and the community have done well,” he said.

    On reports of an appointed terrorist governor for parts of the state by Boko Haram and ISWAP, the governor said the claim remains unauthenticated, adding that his administration is not investigating the issue.

    Recall that there was a report which claimed that the insurgents had appointed one Abba Kaka as the governor by an interim council.

    “We are yet to validate the authenticity of this report that ISWAP appointed governor in Borno State. So, as the governor of the state, I think it’s not right for me to speak on something that I don’t have full knowledge of,” he said.

    Governor Zulum said he would not investigate the claim, blaming the report on social media.

    He added: “Not investigating. This report is not authenticated. You have just seen somebody written something in one of the…I think it’s on Facebook or something like that. You’re a journalist and I think we have to prove reports beyond reasonable doubts, before commenting on such reports.

    “As far as I’m concerned, I’m the Governor of Borno State and I don’t have any information that we have another government in the Nigerian state. Yes. And I’m very much in charge.”

    The governor informed that he was at the Presidential Villa to seek the President’s assistance to repatriate the over 200,000 Borno citizens who fled from the insurgency to Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic.

    He stressed the need to bring them back as, according to him, the security situation in the state has improved.

    He said: “Now that we have started witnessing the gradual return of peace to Borno State, these people that are taking refuge in our neighbouring countries are willing to return home.

    “Therefore, Borno State government picked a date of November 27, 2021, for the commencement of the repatriation process, especially to local government areas of Abadam and Guzamala.

    “So, I came to brief Mr President, to solicit his support, with the view to ensuring hitch-free repatriation exercise.”

    The governor, however, declined to place a figure on what it might take to implement the repatriation, saying: “I can’t quantify, but I think the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs with its agencies; NEMA, the Refugee Commission and indeed the Northeast Development Commission, lastly the Borno State government, have the capacity to shoulder the responsibility of the repatriation exercise.”

    On the fate of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) still in camps in the state, Governor Zulum said the government is also working on returning them to their communities.

    “On the issue of internally displaced persons, yes the IDP camps are not palatable, that is why the government of Borno State and the Federal Government are exploiting the potential of resettling them to their own communities or relocating them to areas that are safe,” he stated.

  • We’ve saved N400m from teachers’ verification exercise in Borno – Zulum

    We’ve saved N400m from teachers’ verification exercise in Borno – Zulum

    Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno says his administration has saved over N400 million from the verification of teaching and non-teaching staffers of public primary schools in the state.

    Zulum made this known in Maiduguri on Tuesday while inaugurating the Need Assessment Team on Education and Health in the state.

    Zulum said that the team was saddled with the responsibility of finding out what needed to be done to improve the quality of education and healthcare services in rural areas in the state.

    He said that his administration had renovated and constructed many schools and health centres in rural areas to improve education and primary healthcare delivery.

    The governor stressed the need to know the number of qualified staff members and facilities needed to make them function properly, in line with his government’s 10-point agenda and 25-year development plan.

    He added that membership of the assessment team, comprising all members of the House of Assembly, local government chairmen, commissioners, permanent secretaries and primary healthcare coordinators, among others, would be divided into three groups to handle the three senatorial districts.

    Zulum said that the team was expected to visit schools and health centres in each local government area to ascertain the number of staffers, those who were qualified, what their needs were and other vital information for government to know what to do within the next two years.

    According to him, it is no longer acceptable for top government officials to continue to send their children and wards to private schools with qualified teachers, leaving children of the rural populace to continue to attend public schools without qualified teachers.

  • UN officials, NGOs diverting, mismanaging donor funds for IDPs – Zulum

    UN officials, NGOs diverting, mismanaging donor funds for IDPs – Zulum

    Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has accused the United Nations and other international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) of diverting and mismanaging funds donated for displaced people in the northeastern region of the country.

    Zulum shared his thoughts at the Borno State Government House on Wednesday when the UN Humanitarian Coordinator Edward Kallon led ambassadors of donor countries to Borno.

    The UN delegation paid a courtesy call on Governor Zulum after interacting with the internally displaced in temporary shelters within Maiduguri.

    At the meeting, Zulum expressed his displeasure at the UN’s handling of funds donated for humanitarian assistance.

    According to the governor, some UN officials may be feeding fat on the misfortune of the affected population, insisting that the Unilateral spending style of donations must be investigated.

    “You may announce some heavy donations, but if this money is left unchecked, believe me sincerely 30 per cent of this funding will not go to the target population,” the governor stated.

    UN data suggests that the Boko haram conflict has led to one of the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.

    This year alone there are at least 8.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance out of which no fewer than 4.4 million are expected to need food assistance in the current lean season.

    The US ambassador, Mary Leonard, and her UK counterpart, Catriona Laing, met with major ‘stakeholders’ in the humanitarian services in Borno on the humanitarian and development priorities in northeast Nigeria.

    This visit is a sequel to the UN’s request for donations to address the humanitarian crisis in North-East Nigeria, during the latest G7 meeting.

    Prior to visiting Governor Zulum at the State House, the two top diplomats visited IDP camps, the military and some of the humanitarian offices. They were led by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon.

    The prolonged unrest within the northeast has affected the Lake Chad Region, including neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Niger and Chad for over 10 years.

  • Insecurity: It is my duty to tell Buhari the truth – Zulum

    Insecurity: It is my duty to tell Buhari the truth – Zulum

    Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Monday met with President Muhammadu Buhari over the worsening insecurity in the north-east region of the country.

    “It is my responsibility to tell the President the truth,” the governor said while briefing reporters on Tuesday on the outcome of his meeting with President Buhari in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    Zulum expressed deep condolences to the families of soldiers who recently lost their lives in the fight against terrorists in the North-East.

    “Let me use this opportunity to extend my condolences to the families of the deceased.

    “I think it is my own responsibility to come and say the truth to the President, to let him know what is going on in the entire North-East sub-region.

    “I think there is a need for us to get support in order for us to succeed in this war against insurgents.

    “It is very pathetic; a few days ago, Damasak (Borno) was attacked, hundreds of people started fleeing Damasak and now, Geidam (Yobe) is almost deserted because many people have left Geidam,” Governor Zulum said.

    The governor decried that the military has yet to receive the equipment ordered, noting that this might be responsible for the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria.

    His meeting with the President followed renewed attacks by Boko Haram/ Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on communities in Borno and Yobe States in recent times.

    Some of the affected places included Damasak town – where the terrorists attacked a humanitarian hub, and Mainok town where at least seven military personnel were confirmed killed – in Borno.

    In Yobe, the insurgents overran Geidam and hoisted their flags there, forcing hundreds of residents, including women and children to flee to neighbouring villages.

    The terrorists have also begun to expand their areas of operation from the North East recently as they took over some villages in Niger, a state in the north-central region of the country.

    Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello, confirmed the presence of the insurgents in the state to reporters on Monday.

    The visibly worried governor had said, “We have over 3,000 people here from communities that have been displaced by bandits and Boko Haram elements around Munya and Shiroro Local Government Areas.”

    “There are some other communities that we think are safe but a vast majority of them (the displaced residents) will have to remain here because their villages and towns have been taken over by the Boko Haram elements; their wives have been forcefully attached to Boko Haram elements,” he added.

  • Buhari meets Gov Zulum, Tinubu in Abuja

    Buhari meets Gov Zulum, Tinubu in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari has met separately behind closed doors with Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at his official residence, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President’s Personal Assistant on Photography, Mr Sunday Aghaeze, confirmed the two meetings in pictorial reports on Tuesday.

    NAN gathered Zulum used the opportunity of the meeting to update the president on security developments in Borno while Tinubu thanked the president for his support during the 12th Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Colloquium held in Kano on March.

    Buhari, who participated virtually in the event to mark the 69th birthday of the former two-term Governor of Lagos State, commended the celebrant for always being an advocate of unity and cohesion in Nigeria.

    NAN reports that no official statement on the outcome of the two meetings held on Monday night as at the time of filing this report.

  • Osinbajo, Zulum, Amaechi for Dakuku’s book launch

    Osinbajo, Zulum, Amaechi for Dakuku’s book launch

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Borno State Governor Babangana Zulum and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi are among the distinguished personalities billed for the public presentation of ‘Strategic Turnaround: The story of a government agency’ authored by Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    The book, which chronicles the transformation of a strategic government agency is scheduled for public presentation virtually (via Zoom) on March 25, 2020.

    See details below:

     

     

  • Boko Haram: Seek support from neighbouring countries now, Gov Zulum tells FG

    Boko Haram: Seek support from neighbouring countries now, Gov Zulum tells FG

    Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has called on the Federal Government to seek support from neighbouring countries in the fight against insurgency.

    Zulum said this on Wednesday at the North East Governors’ Forum held in Bauchi, the state Bauchi state capital, noting that joint action is required to end the insurgency.

    “Again, I want to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to seek support from our neighbours, especially the Republic of Chad and Niger with a view to providing a joint action that will look into the possibility of ending this crisis.

    “Furthermore, Federal Government has to look into the possibility of employing mercenaries with a view to ending this insurgency.

    “For us to end this insurgency, we must be committed enough. We must bring in external support; ensure mercenaries are hired to end this insurgency,” the governor said.

    Zulum, who is also the Chairman of the North East Governors’ Forum urged the newly appointed service chiefs to devise new strategies and initiatives in tackling insecurity in the country.

    “Violence been perpetrated by the insurgents seems to be on the increase both in scope and viciousness and it has become a matter of tactical necessity for the new service chiefs to devise new strategies to counter the current attacks and forestall any future attacks.

    “Undoubtedly, the commitment of our military to the war against insurgency is unquestionable and the determination to succeed is undeniable.

    “However the current escalation of deadly attacks by the terrorists and the various causes of actions being pursued seems to have some limitations in terms of the expected impact. Hence, the need for a new set of a pragmatic approach to completely subdue the terrorist and ultimately end the insurgency,” Zulum added.