By Emmanuel Onyedika
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has revealed that security and humanitarian services consumed about 70 per cent of his budget over the past seven years.
Speaking at the 4th Board Meeting of the UN Offer Support to the Borno Model and the Steering Committee Meeting of the UN Response to Mass Exits from Insurgency in North-east Nigeria Peace Building Fund (PBF) Projects in Maiduguri, Zulum said the expenditure reflected the enormous burden imposed by the Boko Haram insurgency.
He explained that funds were directed towards internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, reconstruction, and livelihood support, noting that the state had invested heavily in rebuilding schools, houses, health facilities, and markets, while providing livelihood opportunities for those affected.
The governor appreciated UN development partners and donors for supporting Borno’s transition from humanitarian response to recovery, reconstruction, resilience, and sustainable development. He urged partners to move from short-term interventions to long-term, scalable development solutions, linking peace-building with economic growth.
Zulum emphasized that sustainable peace could not be separated from jobs, education, functioning institutions, and opportunities for young people. He also called for stronger coordination among development partners to ensure resources are complementary and directed to areas of greatest need.
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, stressed the importance of sustained international partnership, aligning development assistance with Nigeria’s national priorities in education, healthcare, human capital development, climate resilience, and economic growth. He noted that sustainable financing was critical to ensuring lasting results in vulnerable communities.