Ministry of Information and Internal Security, Borno State

BORNO STATE GOVERNMENT

CLARIFICATION ON ALLEGED ₦4 BILLION EXPENDITURE ON RAIL PROJECTS IN BORNO STATE

The attention of the Borno State Government has been drawn to recent reports circulating in the public space alleging that the sum of Four Billion Naira (₦4,000,000,000) was spent on rail construction projects in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Area without any evidence of ex*****on on the ground.

The Government considers it necessary to clarify the matter in the interest of transparency, accountability, and providing the public with accurate information.

Following internal review and consultations with the Ministry of Budget; Ministry of Transport and Energy; and other relevant players in the official procurement process, the Borno State Government wishes to state categorically that no rail construction project was awarded, funded, or executed by the Government during the 2025 fiscal year.

It is hereby confirmed that no Executive Council approval was sought or obtained for any rail project, no budget clearance was requested, no contract was awarded, and no funds were released for any such project within the period under reference.

For the avoidance of doubt, projects of this nature must follow established due process, including formal proposal, Executive Council approval, budget clearance, contract award, and subsequent release of funds. None of these procedures were initiated or concluded in relation to any rail line project during the 2025 fiscal year.

It was however noted that the inclusion of rail project entry in the 2025 Budget Implementation Report, indicating 100 percent completion, was an administrative error and does not reflect the true position of the matter as the said project was neither executed nor paid for.

Relevant stakeholders have already been engaged, and steps are being taken to correct the records accordingly, and to forestall future occurrence of this administrative lapse.

The Borno State Government remains committed to transparency, due process, and accountability in the management of public resources. The Government also appreciate the vigilance of citizens, civil society organisations, and stakeholders in promoting good governance and public accountability.

SIGNED
Prof. Usman A. Tar
Honourable Commissioner,
Ministry of Information and Internal Security, Borno State

Separating Facts from Misinformation: Understanding the Truth Behind the Borno Scholarship Payment Debate

In recent days, a video circulating on social media has generated public debate regarding scholarship payments in Borno State. The video alleges that officials of the Borno State Scholarships Board and the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation deliberately refused to release scholarship funds approved by His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, for students of Borno State.

As citizens, students, and stakeholders in the education sector, it is important that we examine such claims objectively and distinguish facts from assumptions. Public accountability is essential in a democratic society, but accountability must be anchored on verified information rather than misconceptions.

A careful review of the facts surrounding the issue reveals that much of the controversy stems from a misunderstanding of the different scholarship programmes administered by the Borno State Scholarships Board.

Understanding the Source of the Confusion

The central claim made in the viral commentary is that Governor Babagana Umara Zulum approved over ₦706 million for scholarship payments, yet officials of the Scholarships Board and the supervising Ministry allegedly refused to release the funds to students.

At first glance, such an allegation may appear convincing. However, a closer examination reveals a critical flaw in the argument.

The commentator appears to have assumed that the ₦706,594,787.50 approved by the Governor was meant for the 2024/2025 Local Scholarship Scheme for students studying in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

That assumption is inaccurate.

On 1st December 2025, the Borno State Scholarships Board publicly announced the approval of ₦706,594,787.50 for specific categories of scholarship beneficiaries. These included:

- 300 orphans of late Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) heroes;
- Students of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare;
- Students of Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri;
- Repatriated students affected by the Sudan crisis;
- Students of the College of Nursing Sciences, Maiduguri, undertaking professional examinations and registration;
- Nursing students receiving upkeep allowances; and
- Beneficiaries of the STEM Postgraduate Scholarship Programme.

These categories were publicly identified and communicated.

The approval therefore related to specific scholarship programmes and identified beneficiary groups.

The 2024/2025 Local Scholarship Scheme being demanded by students is a separate programme altogether.

Consequently, the assertion that the ₦706 million approval was meant for local scholarship beneficiaries and was subsequently withheld is not supported by the available facts.

What Happened to the 2024/2025 Local Scholarship Scheme?

The facts indicate that the local scholarship scheme was still undergoing administrative processing and verification.

During the preparation of the scholarship payment schedule and following a request for the total financial implication of the exercise, the Board reportedly discovered that some institutions were either not adequately represented on the scholarship application portal or had students whose applications could not be properly validated.

The challenges included network-related registration difficulties, incomplete application records, missing institutional identification details, and other discrepancies that could affect the integrity of the payment process.

Among the affected institutions were:

- Federal Polytechnic, Monguno;
- College of Education, Bama;
- College of Agriculture, Maiduguri;
- College of Basic Management Studies, Konduga; and
- Federal College of Forestry, Jere.

At this stage, the Board was faced with a critical decision.

It could proceed with the submission of the payment schedule for approval despite the identified discrepancies, thereby risking the exclusion of many eligible students.

Alternatively, it could temporarily suspend the submission process, engage the affected institutions, conduct additional verification, and ensure that all qualified beneficiaries were properly captured.

The Board chose the latter.

Rather than forwarding an incomplete payment schedule for approval, additional verification and corrective measures were undertaken in order to guarantee fairness, transparency, and inclusiveness.

This is perhaps the most important fact omitted from much of the public commentary.

The issue was not that approved local scholarship funds were withheld from students.

The issue was that the payment schedule for the 2024/2025 Local Scholarship Scheme had not yet been finalized and submitted for approval because efforts were being made to ensure that no eligible student was excluded from the scheme.

Indeed, the Board has since clarified that following the resolution of the identified challenges and the completion of the verification exercise, the scholarship payment schedule is being finalized for onward submission for approval and subsequent release of funds.

Viewed objectively, this reflects an attempt to include more students in the process rather than deny them their entitlements.

A Simple Timeline of Events

To better understand the issue, it is useful to consider the sequence of events:

1 December 2025
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum approved ₦706,594,787.50 for specific scholarship categories, including CJTF orphans, STEM postgraduate scholars, nursing students, Sudan-returnee students, and other identified beneficiaries.

Subsequent Scholarship Processing
While preparing the 2024/2025 Local Scholarship payment schedule, the Scholarships Board discovered registration and validation challenges affecting students from some institutions.

Verification and Correction Phase
The Board engaged affected institutions and undertook additional verification to ensure that eligible students would not be excluded from the scheme.

Public Clarification
The Executive Secretary of the Scholarships Board publicly explained the circumstances responsible for the delay and reassured stakeholders that corrective measures were ongoing.

Current Position
The Board has indicated that following the completion of the verification exercise, the scholarship payment schedule is being finalized for submission for approval and subsequent release.

The timeline clearly shows that the local scholarship process had not yet reached the approval stage when allegations of withholding approved funds began circulating.

Understanding Human Capital Development

Another recurring argument is that Government continues to fund STEM programmes, postgraduate studies, international scholarships, and health-sector interventions while allegedly neglecting local scholarship students.

Such arguments often overlook the broader philosophy of human capital development.

Human capital development is not merely about paying scholarships. It is about investing strategically in the education, skills, knowledge, and professional competencies of citizens to create a productive and competitive workforce.

This explains why governments invest simultaneously in local scholarships, postgraduate studies, STEM education, healthcare training, international academic opportunities, and professional development programmes.

These programmes are not competing with one another.

They are complementary investments designed to produce doctors, engineers, scientists, researchers, educators, healthcare professionals, innovators, and other skilled manpower required for the future development of society.

A student sponsored to study engineering through a STEM programme, a medical student receiving professional support, and a beneficiary of a local scholarship scheme are all part of the same educational ecosystem.

Therefore, support for specialized scholarship programmes should not be interpreted as evidence of neglecting local scholarship beneficiaries.

Rather, they are all components of a broader strategy aimed at advancing education and human capital development in Borno State.

The Record Must Also Be Acknowledged

While students are justified in expressing concerns over delays, it is equally important to acknowledge the historical record.

Since assuming office, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has consistently maintained scholarship support for Borno State students studying in universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, monotechnics, and other tertiary institutions within and outside Nigeria.

Thousands of students have benefited from various scholarship programmes under his administration.

The current concern relates specifically to the processing challenges affecting the 2024/2025 Local Scholarship Scheme.

It would therefore be inaccurate to suggest that Government has abandoned local scholarship beneficiaries while supporting other categories of students.

A more balanced position would be to appreciate the significant investments already being made in education while simultaneously advocating for the speedy conclusion of the ongoing process and prompt payment to eligible students.

Conclusion

Students have every right to demand transparency, accountability, and timely payment of their scholarship entitlements. Those concerns are legitimate and deserve attention.

However, public advocacy is most effective when it is grounded in facts.

The available evidence suggests that the current controversy arose largely from a misunderstanding that conflated two separate scholarship processes—one that had already received approval for specifically identified categories of beneficiaries and another that was still undergoing verification before submission for approval.

The facts remain clear.

The ₦706.59 million approval announced on 1st December 2025 was for specific scholarship categories that were publicly identified.

The 2024/2025 Local Scholarship Scheme remained under verification in order to ensure that eligible students were not excluded before the payment schedule was submitted for approval.

These are two separate processes.

As citizens and stakeholders, we should continue to encourage transparency and accountability. At the same time, we must resist the temptation to substitute assumptions for facts.

The debate should therefore shift from accusations and misinformation to constructive engagement aimed at ensuring the timely completion of the process and the payment of all deserving beneficiaries.

In public affairs, facts must always come before outrage, and evidence must always prevail over speculation.

Zulum and the Architecture of Renewed Hope

BusinessDay’s honour to Borno’s Governor is more than an award; it is a national recognition of a leader who turned reconstruction into philosophy, infrastructure into hope, and public office into uncommon duty.

By Folorunso S. Aluko
Director General, Progressive Governors Forum

There are moments in public life when an award does not merely decorate a leader; it clarifies a story. The recognition of His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, FNSE, mni, Governor of Borno State, by BusinessDay at the States Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards is one of such moments. It is not simply another plaque in the long corridor of political commendations. It is a national acknowledgement of a profound truth: that in the most difficult theatres of governance, leadership can still rise above lamentation, rebuild human confidence, and turn the wounded geography of conflict into a workshop of renewal. BusinessDay’s reporting on the awards listed Governor Zulum among governors honoured for transformative governance and identified Borno’s distinction around post-conflict reconstruction, economic recovery, critical infrastructure, livelihood restoration and community rebuilding; earlier coverage of the award process also placed Borno in the infrastructure competitiveness conversation.

For us in the Progressive Governors Forum, this recognition is deeply gratifying, but it is not surprising. Governor Zulum has long represented one of the finest examples of progressive governance in Nigeria: evidence-driven, austere in personal style, ambitious in public purpose, courageous in difficult circumstances, and relentless in the pursuit of results. In Borno, infrastructure has not been treated as concrete alone. It has been treated as moral repair. A school rebuilt is a promise restored. A hospital upgraded is a covenant renewed. A road opened is an economy reconnected. A resettled community is a people told, in the clearest language of the state, that they have not been abandoned.

This is the philosophical depth of Governor Zulum’s work. He understands that after insecurity, the first task of government is not rhetoric but presence. The citizen must see the state again: in the classroom, in the clinic, on the road, at the water point, in the marketplace, in the farm settlement, in the housing estate, in the industrial park. In Borno, governance has therefore become a visible argument against despair. It says that the republic is not an abstraction. It is a borehole that works, a teacher in a classroom, a clinic with equipment, a bridge that connects commerce, and a governor who shows up.

BusinessDay’s assessment captured the scale of this transformation: rehabilitation of industrial assets such as the Borno Plastic Industry and Borno Meat Processing Company; redevelopment of the Borno State Industrial Park and Enterprise Centre, reportedly supporting more than 2,000 SMEs; reconstruction of over 10,000 houses across local government areas; improved connectivity for trade linkages; enhanced industrial power through the Maiduguri 50MW Gas Plant and collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency; and major investments in education and health, including more than 100 secondary schools, the Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, staff and doctors’ quarters, and support for institutions in Monguno, Gwoza and Azare.

Yet statistics alone do not explain Zulum. His leadership must be understood as a continuity of character. Before he became Governor, he had already passed through the demanding school of public trust: the academy, technical service, institutional administration, and the reconstruction responsibilities of a state fighting to recover its dignity. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has previously noted Governor Zulum’s path as an educationist, former Deputy Dean and Acting Dean in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Maiduguri, Rector of Ramat Polytechnic, and later Commissioner of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement under former Borno State Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima, now Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This is why the award is expected. It is the fruit of a leadership history already written in sacrifice, preparation and disciplined service. In 2018, as the succession question in Borno gathered momentum, then Governor Kashim Shettima endorsed Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, who was serving as Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, to succeed him; reports at the time also noted that Borno elders and leaders cited his integrity and record of achievement as commissioner.

We must therefore acknowledge, with respect, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria - Governor Zulum’s former boss, mentor and leader in the Borno project. The Shettima-Zulum story is one of the noblest examples of political continuity in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. It is a story in which succession was not reduced to personal inheritance, but elevated to institutional duty. Senator Shettima saw in Zulum not merely a brilliant academic or a loyal aide, but a builder of systems, a man capable of carrying forward the reconstruction imperative with humility, competence and courage. Today, Governor Zulum’s performance vindicates that trust.

Loyalty, in Governor Zulum’s case, is not the small loyalty of flattery. It is the higher loyalty of continuity, gratitude and duty. He has remained loyal to the people of Borno by refusing to govern from a distance. He has remained loyal to the APC by giving practical meaning to progressive politics. He has remained loyal to the vision of his predecessor by deepening the reconstruction foundations he inherited. He has remained loyal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by demonstrating that national transformation must be felt through sub-national delivery. The Federal Government’s Renewed Hope priority framework identifies infrastructure, security, agriculture, education, health, social investment, economic reform, energy, industrialisation and effective governance among the critical pillars of national development - all areas in which Borno’s experience under Zulum speaks with authority.

At a time when the Vice President has rightly argued that states are the real engines of inclusive growth - the places where land, agricultural clusters, tourism assets, factories, farms, hotels, services, jobs and citizen experience are located - Borno stands as a living case study of sub-national relevance. The Renewed Hope Agenda cannot remain a phrase in Abuja; it must become visible in Maiduguri, Monguno, Bama, Biu, Gwoza, Jere and every community where citizens measure government not by press statements but by daily life.

This is what Governor Zulum has done with unusual discipline. His administration’s 25-Year Development Plan and 10-Year Strategic Transformation Plan place emphasis on rebuilding the state, restoring livelihoods, sustainable peace, security, agricultural revolution, human capital development and infrastructure modernisation. The official Borno State framework also lists priorities such as job creation, reconstruction, women empowerment, education, commerce and industry, agriculture and food security, health care, security, water, roads, and rural and urban development.

Across Borno, this governing philosophy has become a landscape of projects. The 4,000-capacity International Conference Centre, the Post Office Flyover, and the dualisation of the Tandari–Neitel Shoe and Tannery–Maiduguri Cattle Market axis are part of an urban renewal ambition aimed at giving Maiduguri the infrastructure of a modern state capital. Governor Zulum has publicly pledged to complete ongoing capital projects before the end of his tenure, insisting that projects with direct impact on the people must be delivered.

In transportation and social relief, Borno’s electric mobility intervention shows the same combination of innovation and compassion. Governor Zulum inaugurated 20 electric-powered buses for daily commuting in Maiduguri and Jere, following the earlier commissioning by President Tinubu of electric buses, electric bicycles, tricycles and vehicles. The buses were deployed to ease transport costs, with reports noting subsidised fares and a charging terminal capable of supporting large-scale operations.

In governance infrastructure, Vice President Kashim Shettima’s commissioning of the newly built Presidential Lodge, Government House Clinic, New Governor’s Office Complex, protocol office and Government House Juma’at Mosque in Maiduguri symbolised more than new buildings. It symbolised institutional renewal. The Vice President commended the quality of work and expressed satisfaction that Governor Zulum, his successor, had not disappointed in good governance and delivery of democratic dividends to the people of Borno.

President Tinubu himself, during a visit to Maiduguri, commended Governor Zulum for sustained investment in education, health and transportation, and for improving livelihoods. On that occasion, the President commissioned the international wing of the Muhammadu Buhari Airport, a new VIP extension, electric vehicles, intra-state buses, tricycles, and three model primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools.

This is why Governor Zulum is not merely performing; he is defining a standard. He has shown that progressive governance is not noise. It is delivery. It is not propaganda. It is proof. It is not the politics of entitlement. It is the politics of responsibility. In a democracy, the highest form of political argument is performance. Roads argue. Schools argue. Hospitals argue. Water systems argue. Resettled communities argue. Revived industries argue. Jobs argue. Governor Zulum’s Borno is making that argument with clarity and force.

On behalf of the Progressive Governors Forum, I warmly congratulate His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, FNSE, mni, on this well-deserved honour. We are always proud of him - proud of his contributions to the Forum, proud of the value he brings to the PGF Secretariat, proud of the seriousness with which he engages policy, governance and peer-learning platforms, and proud of the dignity he brings to the progressive family. The PGF exists as a platform of governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, with a Secretariat committed to supporting the Forum’s goals, strengthening policy convergence, and contributing to APC governments and democratic development in Nigeria.

Governor Zulum is one of the finest Progressive Governors of our time. He embodies the best instincts of the APC when the party is understood not merely as an electoral platform, but as a vehicle for human development, social justice, institutional renewal and national integration. His work in Borno gives practical strength to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the national team led alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON.

This award, therefore, belongs not only to Governor Zulum. It belongs to the people of Borno, whose resilience has made reconstruction meaningful. It belongs to the workers, engineers, teachers, doctors, nurses, security personnel, traditional institutions, community leaders, party members and citizens whose quiet sacrifices sustain the machinery of renewal. It belongs to the Progressive Governors Forum Secretariat, it belongs to the progressive movement, which must continue to prove that politics can still be noble when anchored on service.

In the end, the Zulum lesson is simple but profound: leadership is not the ability to occupy office; it is the courage to restore hope where hope has been injured. In Borno, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has not only built infrastructure. He has built confidence. He has built continuity. He has built a philosophy of public service worthy of national study.

For that, BusinessDay’s honour is deserved. For that, the Progressive Governors Forum celebrates him. And for that, history will remember him not merely as a governor of Borno State, but as one of the main architects of Nigeria’s renewed hope.

Zulum Bags BusinessDay Nigeria’s Best Performing Governor in Infrastructure Competitiveness

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has been honoured as the 2025 Best Performing Governor in the Infrastructure Competitiveness Category at the BusinessDay States Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA).

The prestigious award was presented on Thursday at the NAF Conference Centre and Suites, Jabi, Abuja, where Governor Zulum was recognised alongside ten other state governors for outstanding performance in governance and development.

Among dignitaries present at the ceremony were the Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar Namadi; the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia; the Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Faruk Lawal Jobe among other personalities.

Governor Zulum’s selection reflects his administration’s remarkable achievements in rebuilding critical infrastructure, revitalising moribund industries, and restoring livelihoods as part of Borno State’s comprehensive post-conflict recovery and development agenda.

His outstanding leadership over the years has earned him numerous accolades at national and international levels, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Most Media-Friendly Governor Award, the Nurse-Friendly Governor Award 2026, New Telegraph Governor of the Year, Forbes African Leadership Award, and African Leadership Person of the Year, among numerous others.

Governor Zulum, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, expressed profound gratitude to BusinessDay Media Limited, Nigeria’s flagship business and economic platform, for the distinguished recognition.

“ On behalf of His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum CON, FNSE, mni, I wish to convey his heartfelt appreciation to the Publisher/Chief Executive Officer, management, editorial team, and entire staff of BusinessDay for finding him worthy of the Best Performing Governor Award in the Infrastructure Competitiveness Category at the 2025 States Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA),” Zulum stated.

Governor Zulum said the recognition is particularly significant because it aligns closely with the core vision of his administration, the rebuilding and transformation of Borno State through strategic infrastructure development and post-conflict recovery.

“This award ranks among the most cherished recognitions he has received because it validates the painstaking efforts of his administration in restoring hope, rebuilding communities, and laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth,” he added.

“In the last seven years alone, the administration has executed nearly 2,000 projects across various sectors, including the construction and rehabilitation of mega schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, flyovers, housing estates, water supply schemes, and other critical public infrastructure.”

Speaking at the event, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of BusinessDay, Frank Aigbogun, described Governor Zulum as an exceptional leader whose administration has delivered one of Nigeria’s most ambitious reconstruction programmes despite the challenges posed by more than a decade of insurgency.

“Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has distinguished himself as an outstanding leader who, despite the challenges of a prolonged insurgency, has delivered one of Nigeria’s most ambitious reconstruction and reintegration programmes.”

The Borno State delegation to the ceremony included the Chief Investment Adviser to the Governor, Dr. Said Alkali Kori; Senior Special Assistant on Media, Hon. Baba Sheikh Haruna and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Internal Security, Alhaji Aminu Chamalwa.

Also present are the Senior Technical Assistant to the Governor, Christopher Godwin Akaba; General Manager of Borno Radio Television (BRTV), Malam Ali Mamman Shuwa; Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Borno State Council, Comrade Abdulkarim Haruna; and the council’s Secretary, Ciroma Ali Ibrahim, among others.

PRESS RELEASE

Zulum Assigns Portfolios to Nine New Commissioners, Creates Ministry of Planning and Economic Development

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the posting and allocation of portfolios to the nine newly sworn-in commissioners following their screening and confirmation by Borno State House of Assembly.

Governor Zulum has also approved the creation of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen governance, accelerate post-conflict recovery and stimulate economic growth.

The approved portfolios are as released:

1. Hon. Satumari Abdulaziz Samaila – Commissioner, Ministry of Inter-Governmental Affairs and Special Duties.

2. Hon. Babagana Malarima – Commissioner, Ministry of Religious Affairs.

3. Hon. Maina Yaumi – Commissioner, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.

4. Hon. Engr. Tijjani Alkali Goni – Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resources.

5. Hon. Arch. Isa Garba Haladu – Commissioner, Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement.

6. Hon. Engr. Mohammed Habib – Commissioner, Ministry of Environment.

7. Hon. Engr. Dr. Bawu Musami – Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

8. Hon. Ibrahim Hala Hassan – Commissioner, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism.

9. Hon. Engr. Adam Bukar Bababe – Commissioner, Ministry of Works and Housing.

The statement further noted that all commissioners are to resume/assume duties in their respective ministries effective immediately.

Governor Zulum urged the commissioners to recommit themselves to the service of the people and rededicate their efforts towards the successful implementation of the administration’s policies and programmes as the government enters the final phase of its tenure.

The Governor also called on the commissioners to work closely with their Permanent Secretaries, directors and other staff to ensure effective service delivery and enable the people of Borno State to enjoy greater dividends of democracy.

Signed:
Bukar Tijani FASN, FSSN, JAAS
Secretary to Borno State Government