Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has voiced deep frustration over the crippling impact of insecurity on development, revealing his administration has invested a staggering N100 billion on security interventions in 2025 alone.
Security Spending Fails to Lure Contractors
Despite the enormous financial commitment to safety, Governor Zulum lamented that construction firms remain too fearful to undertake projects in the state. The governor stated that this fear has directly stalled the reconstruction of vital roads and other infrastructure desperately needed by residents.
He made these disclosures during a visit to the palace of the Emir of Uba, His Highness Alhaji Ali Ibn Mamza, in Uba Local Government Area. The visit was part of an assessment of the security situation in the Askira/Uba communities following recent deadly attacks.
"Security is important; without it, there would be no peace," Governor Zulum emphasized. "I have plans to construct roads, but the problem is that no contractor will want to come down here and work."
State Forced to Build Its Own Capacity
Faced with this stark reality, the Borno State government is taking an unprecedented step to become self-reliant in infrastructure development. Governor Zulum announced the establishment of a quarry site in Gwoza and the purchase of 100 trucks.
This move is designed to empower the state's own Road Maintenance Agency to directly undertake construction projects, bypassing the need for reluctant private contractors. This strategic shift underscores the severity of the security challenges hindering normal governance and development.
The governor reiterated that his administration has extensive plans for sectors like education and health, but a significant portion of resources is being diverted to secure the state. "In this year, what I spent on security was about N100 billion... We have a lot of plans for education, health, and more. We spent a lot to make the structures on the ground," he stated.
Broader Security Context in Borno
The governor's lament comes amidst ongoing military operations against terrorist groups in the Northeast. Recently, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted a precision strike, destroying a terrorist enclave within the Sambisa Forest.
However, the threat persists at a community level. In a separate and distressing incident, the terrorist group Islamic State in West African Province (ISWAP) is reportedly demanding a N10 million ransom for the release of 13 teenage female farmers abducted in the state. This highlights the complex and pervasive nature of the security crisis that continues to deter investment and development in Borno State.
