The Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has presented a proposed 2021 budget of N208 billion to the State House of Assembly.
The allocation for capital projects takes 65%, which is N135 billion, while recurrent expenditures got N72.7 billion, representing 35%.
During his presentation at the state assembly in Maiduguri, Governor Zulum, said, the budget would be financed from the statutory allocation as an improved internally generated revenue.
Governor Zulum said the budget, with the theme, “the People’s Budget of Recovery and consolidation,” was aimed at laying a foundation for the implementation of a development plan, which was recently launched by his administration.
The 25-years plan has an initial 10-year phase.
In the sectoral allocation, Governor Zulum announced the highest allocation of N16. 2 billion for the education sector, and N15.7 billion for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement of IDPs and refugees, while the sum of N11.7 billion was allocated to works; for the construction and rehabilitation of roads in many parts of the state.
The roads under consideration are the rehabilitation of the Damboa-Biu road, Chibok-Askira Road, Jiddari Polo road, Customs Flyover, Dualization of the post office to Gwange Graveyard, Dualization of Customs to Muna road, laying of Maiduguri – Bama road, urban renewal of Askira and Monguno among others.
Governor Zulum also announced the allocation of N10.4 billion for healthcare projects, including the construction of an Orthopedic hospital and funding of ongoing Borno State University Teaching Hospital.
The Agriculture Sector got N9.4 billion, while the sum of N5.7 billion to Borno State Road Maintenance Agency and N4.2 billion was allocated for housing and energy for the construction of new city estate of 500 houses in Maiduguri and shopping complexes in each of the state’s senatorial district.
The Governor announced a plan to support 100 thousand farmers on irrigation farming and expand outreach to all local governments.
Reviewing the 2020 budget review, Governor Zulum recalled a few of the projects executed which included the construction of 22 roads including road network of 43 kilometres with 30 kilometres of drainage, total overlay of 15 kilometres and ongoing overlay of 13.2 kilometres totalling 71.2 kilometres while the first-ever flyover in the stage was the ongoing bridge in Maiduguri.
He also said 33 Healthcare Centers were built across the State while 7 health facilities including General Hospitals were rehabilitated. Two Maternity Hospitals were also built.
Suzan O
