From HASSAN JIRGI Maiduguri
Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, has described insecurity as a major setback to ongoing and planned infrastructural projects, especially road construction.
The governor made the disclosure during a visit to the Emir of Uba, Ali Ibn Mamza, at his palace in Uba town, Askira/Uba Local Government Area.
Zulum noted the huge financial burden of tackling insecurity, revealing that his administration had spent about N100bn on improving security within the year.
He therefore said, “My visit is to do a lot of work and, most especially, assess the security situation.
He added that security is important without it, there would be no peace. I have plans to construct roads, but the problem is no contractor will want to come down and work here.
That is why I am establishing a quarry site in Gwoza and purchasing 100 trucks so that our road maintenance agency can construct roads.
“This year, what I spent on security is about N100bn. If there is peace, why wouldn’t I use it to do some developmental projects? We have many plans for education, health and more. “
He said the truth is that we are spending a lot on security and putting structures on the ground,
Governor Zulum, also assured residents that road construction would begin in the near future, alongside the establishment of higher education institutions, computer centres and other developmental projects in the area.
According to him, the serial deadly attacks had forced many contractors to abandon their sites, making it difficult for the government to carry on with its development agenda.
The Emir of Uba expressed gratitude to the Governor for the interventions in the community and assured the governor that the people of my domain (Uba) would continue to support and pray for lasting peace in Borno State and Nigeria at ledger.
He lauded the governor’s efforts and acknowledged the numerous projects carried out by his administration despite the prevailing security challenges.
