From Olukayode Idowu, Maiduguri
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum has in just one year in the saddle has undertaken 326 capital projects and 49 policies and programmes, the Secretary to the State Government, Usman Jidda has said.
The SSG said some of these were capital-intensive,
Jidda, in a statement on Saturday, explained that in 21 of the capital projects, Zulum’s administration is constructing 6,544 sub-urban and low-cost houses in 12 local government areas, for re-settlement of internally displaced persons and refugees.
The SSG’s statement is kickstarting media engagements lined up to mark the one year in office of the governor where commissioners and heads of boards and agencies are scheduled to begin pictorial-based press conferences from Monday in Maiduguri.
Jidda said while his statement was to give statistical overview, commissioners at their sectoral briefings, give specifics of the projects, their status and exact locations.
The SSG said: “On security, 300 surveillance vehicles were distributed to security agencies and volunteers and these vehicles were captured under one project. On education, 76 projects were carried out including establishment of 21 new schools in 13 LGAs. On healthcare, 46 projects were carried out and they include 37 new primary healthcare centers in 17 LGs. On infrastructure, there are 40 projects in 9 LGs and they include 30 new and rehabilitated roads as well as ongoing construction of Borno’s first flyover in Maiduguri”.
Giving further breakdown, Jidda explained that on restoration of civil authorities in local government areas, Zulum’s administration undertook 53 projects in 21 LGAs, 11 of which were started from scratch while 42 were reconstruction works. The projects centred on council secretariats, lodges, police stations, LEA offices, courts and palaces of resident traditional rulers. The SSG further explained that Zulum undertook 38 capital projects on water supply including drilling of 213 new boreholes, 18 projects on electrification, 8 on agriculture and seven on vocational skills and entrepreneurship development.