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Borno begins mass transit buses conversion to CNG

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Maiduguri, Dec. 14, 2023: Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, says his administration has begun conversion of mass transit buses to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu on Monday in Maiduguri unveiled 50 electric taxis procured by Borno government for its Yankari Express Transport Company.

Zulum stated this during the presentation of the 2024 budget to the state House of Assemply on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

He said that 20 diesel fuelled buses had so far been converted to CNG, adding that his administration would collaborate with NNPC, which has a gas power plant in the state, to enhance CNG supply.

The governor, who also announced plans to covert all streets lights to solar, said that such proactive measures were imperative considering the location of the state in semi-arid zone which makes it vulnerable to climate change.

“Environmental matters and desertification issues have received a lot of attention from the state government in 2023.

“Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Environment had raised and distributed over four million assorted seedlings to control desertification and restore lost vegetation across the state.

“The problems of erosion and flooding has been addressed squarely through the desilting, evacuation of drainages and construction of culverts to allow for free flow of water, especially during the rainy season.

“The State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) has also keyed into our sustained efforts aimed at keeping a balanced ecosystem that is beneficial to the people of the state,” Zulum said.

He explained that Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene sector has also witnessed remarkable progress even in the face of unprecedented challenges.

The governor said the state has recorded substantial achievements in the implementation of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) policies, setting the stage for future growth and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal No. 6.

He said the state Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), has made giant strides in infrastructure development including the construction of over 56 hybrid boreholes fitted with overhead tanks, water reticulation, and taps.

“The agency also undertook the upgrading of industrial boreholes into hybrid ones for the first time in the history of the state, eliminating the current high cost of diesel while preserving the environment and ensuring sustainable water supply in line with current global standards.

“Mr Speaker, through intervention by RUWASSA, two local government areas in the state, Biu and Shani, have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) LGAs, placing Borno State on the global map of states with ODF Local Government Areas,” he said.

NACCIMA meaning - what does NACCIMA stand for?

Borno now ready for business – NACCIMA

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Maiduguri, Oct. 11, 2023: The National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) says the improved peace in Borno has made it set for business and investments.

The 1st Deputy President of NACCIMA, Mr Jani Ibrahim, made this known on Tuesday in Maiduguri at the Annual General Meeting/Election of the executive members of Borno Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BOCCIMA).

Ibrahim, who represented the President of NACCIMA, Mr Dele Oye, at the occasion, said he was impressed with situation he saw in Borno and was happy that he came to see things for himself that has changed the narrative about the state used to be known for insurgency.

He tasked all stakeholders to reach out to the world on the real situation in Borno which has recorded gradual return of peace and the needed leadership being provided by the Zulum administration.

“We need to let people outside to know that Borno is ready for business; there is good business to be done in Borno.

“Before the end of this year, my company will be talking with some people in Borno on multi billion Naira business,” Ibrahim said.

In his remarks, Gov. Babagana Zulum urged investors to team up with the State Government in tapping the investment opportunities in the state.

Zulum, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, said with the return of peace in the state, most displaced persons had returned to their ancestral land with businesses picking up.

He reiterated the commitment of his administration to pursue industrial development and stimulate the growth of small and medium scale businesses in the state which is bordering Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

Zulum said the state would soon showcase its economic potentials in the upcoming North East Domestic Trade Fair to hold in Bauchi.

In their respective remarks, the President of BOCCIMA, Alhaji Ahmed Ashemi, and the Director General, Alhaji Abdu Usman, lauded the Zulum administration for its commitment in transforming the state.

Ashemi and Usman, who were re-elected with other executive members for a second term, however appealed for more support from the government.

Zullum

Zulum presents N234.8bn budget for 2023                 

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno on Wednesday presented N234.8 billion budget for 2023 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.

The budget tagged: “Budget of Continuity for Sustainabilty,” is N34 billion lower than N267.9 billion for 2022.

Presenting the budget, Zulum said it was made up of N144.1 billion capital expenditure and N90.6 recurrent expenditure.

He said the budget would be financed through N137.8 billion Recurrent Revenue;  N33.1 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Value Added Tax of N30.1 billion, other Federation Account sources of N6.5 billion, and Capital Receipts of N95.6 billion comprising loans and grants.

“The 2023 budget like the 2022 shall be based on the Federal Government Fiscal forecast for 2023 to 2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework which is already domesticated for the first time in the state through your support recently.

“The 2023 budget shall, therefore, be facilitated by enhanced Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as projected,” he said.

Major highlight of the budget showed that the Ministry of Finance got the lion share of N30.3 billion followed by education with N28 billionn and N25 billion for works.

More than N19.9 billion has been allocated to Ministry of Health and N19.6 billion for Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement.

The Speaker, Alhaji Abdulkarim Lawan described the budget as “all inclusive”, and captured all peculiar needs of the people of the state.

Lawan said the House would ensure speedy passage of the bill, and tasks Ministries, Departments and Agencies to accord maximum cooperation to its committees during their budget defences.

“The Honourable House will accord the processing and passage of the budget proposal bill the urgency it deserve to enable your administration to start implementing it in January,” he said.

electricity-distribution

Nigeria moves to restore power supply to Borno

The Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu says  power supply will soon be

restored to Borno.

Mr Odutayo Oluseyi, the Assistant Director, Press, Ministry of Power quoted the minister as saying this  when the Vice Chancellor, Borno State University, Prof Umar  Sandabe led his management team  on a visit to  his office in Abuja.

Aliyu  said that all efforts were ongoing to restore power to Maiduguri in about six weeks.

According to him, the Independent Power Plants projects are being handled through the policy on off-grid and mini grid.

 He said that the mini grid would  adequately cater for all renewables.

 The minister directed  the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to explore ways in which the state universities would benefit from the Energising education policy of the Federal Government.

Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor commended the minister for his unrelenting efforts at reforming the power sector.

He said the institution had been out of power supply since 2020 due to the insurgency.

‘The university has been on generators which takes a huge sum of its funding,

”The generators, in spite consuming huge sum of its funds do not  provide the needed electricity for the university operations.”

He appealed to the  minister to ensure that power supply was restored to the institution with a  promise that all power projects within its premises would be secured.

Idris photo

Borno South yearns for Durkwah, asks Ndume to step aside

After almost 19 years in the National Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, may not have it easy going back to the green chamber.

A strong challenger has emerged courtesy of the prompting of the people of the constituent, asking Ndume to step aside.

As it stands, there seem to be a consensus among the electorate from the senatorial district that a change should be effected as Ndume had overstayed.

Ndume had represented part of his present constituency as a member of the House of Representatives (Gwoza-Damboa-Chibok) between 2003 and 2011, and as a senator from 2011 to date.

The elite, youths, women, opinion leaders, and religious leaders have reached a consensus on the need for a change and seeking an all-inclusive and fair representation.

The people have resolved that Alhaji Idris Mamman Durkwah should pick the senatorial ticket on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Durkwah had challenged the present Governor of Borno, Prof. Baba Gana Zulum, in the governorship primary in 2019.

Durkwah rose to the high echelon of the Nigerian highly competitive and bureaucratic Federal Civil Service Structure due to hard work, knowledge, resilience, and integrity.

He left federal service as the Director of Finance in the federal ministries of Agriculture, Finance, and Health and also traversed the private and public sectors with excellence and distinction.

He was also Deputy Director (Accounts), State House; Assistant Director (Accounts), Office of the Vice – President; Director (Finance), Federal Super phosphate Fertilizer Co. Ltd, Kaduna; and Financial Controller, Federal Capital Territory Agricultural Development Project.

The technocrat has been in the private sector, with his experiences as Senior Partner, AKIN, IDRIS, and Company and down the lane, a Financial Adviser, Forestry Management Environmental and Coordinating Unit; Acting Financial Controller, Afforestation Project Coordinating Unit; and Principal Accountant, Forestry Management Environment and Coordinating Unit.

Borno Youth and Students Discussion (BYSD-Forum), an NGO which had in 2019 advised Ndume against seeking further election at the Borno South Senatorial District is insisting on political power shift in the zone.

At a summit held in Maiduguri recently, the Forum agreed on the need to change the political structuring that restricted certain elective offices to particular zones or local governments.