Report: 21 steps Zulum took in November
Disaster Management
Professor Zulum began November with managing a fire disaster which consumed dozens of shops and goods at a GSM market in Maiduguri. The governor released N50 million to support affected traders, and ordered relocation of the market to a more suitable building already being expanded. The governor hosted traders of the razed market and gave a deadline for relocation.
Relatedly, Zulum received the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service towards collaboration with Borno State on fire fighting.
Social Protection
On social protection, in November, Professor Zulum approved the distribution of N30, 000 each to 3,127 physically challenged beggars to lay the ground for government’s ban on street begging.
Workers’ Welfare
In November, Zulum constituted a multistakeholder committee on payment of new minimum wage to workers in the state.
Security
On Security, Professor Zulum funded and hosted a northeast security summit. Organized by the Inspector-General of Police, the summit, held in Maiduguri, was attended by governors, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers and diverse stakeholders from the six states of the northeast. Critical measures aimed at curtailing the Boko Haram insurgency were adopted.
Also in November, Professor Zulum engaged and equipped hundreds of cameroonian vigilantes to join thousands of hunters and civilian Joint Task Force in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram.
Professor Zulum received and held discussions with a United Nations high-powered team on security. The governor also received and approved the rehabilitation and reintegration of 983 detained suspects of insurgency, who were found innocent and cleared by the Nigerian military.
Infrastructure
On infrastructure, Professor Zulum accelerated the construction of community roads in different parts of the state capital. He also received a technical update from a Chinese engineering company, towards the construction of Borno’s first set of flyovers, to ease urban traffic. The governor also inspected the site for the take-off of the MaiduguriBama Highway.
Primary Healthcare
On primary healthcare, Professor Zulum commissioned a new hospital in Dalori. He also attended a high level round table on primary healthcare and human capital development hosted by Mr Bill Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote in Seattle, the United States of America. Zulum also met a UKfunded Women 4 Health with a focus on reducing maternal mortality.
Education
On education, Professor Zulum commissioned 20 ultra modern bungalows built at the University of Maiduguri to increase staff housing. The governor announced the commencement of 50 additional staff houses at the university. Represented by his deputy, the governor also commissioned a new primary school in Moramti community of Konduga.
Also in November, Professor Zulum inspected the construction of staff houses in Borno’s new state university. He interacted with pioneer students, directed allocation of students buses and addressed payment of scholarships.
Affordable Housing
On housing, Professor Zulum, in November, inaugurated a committee to supervise the construction of a 500-housing estate to be completed next year. Zulum also approved the subsidized sale of 2, 787 government houses to citizens, many of them workers.
Reconstruction
Professor Zulum in November, undertook a courageous visit to old and new Marte. It was the first civilian visit to the former stronghold of Boko Haram insurgents in more than five years.
Zulum hosted a task team of the World Bank in Maiduguri. The governor led government officials to review multisectoral projects and identified new priorities. Also in November, Professor Zulum hosted bankers’ committee to discuss developmental issues.
Humanitarian Coordination
Professor Zulum hosted three ministers, United Nations officials and security chiefs for an international workshop on civil-security cooperation in humanitarian interventions across the northeast.
Inter-governmental Networking
Professor Zulum hosted the Secretary to Hovernment of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, at the Borno Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
Zulum was also visited the Minister of Water Resources at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. Both meetings were aimed at attracting developmental projects to benefit Borno people.
Also in November, Professor Zulum honoured the invitation to the graduation of Senior Executive Course 41 participants at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Plateau State.
2019 NUJ’s Most Promising Governor Award
Overwhelmed by Professor Zulum’s performance in only six months, the Nigeria Union of Journalists in November, declared Governor Zulum, winner of the NUJ’s most promising governor award for the year 2019.