Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has unveiled a 25-year strategic plan with immediate, medium and long-term implementation phases, envisioned to turn Borno State into a secure, world class state.
Borno, arguably is the hot bed of Boko Haram activities in the country and has seen destruction of life and infrastructure running into billions of naira.
Unveiling the plan in Maiduguri on Saturday, Zulum, noted that moving forward, all activities of government would be executed according to the plan.
The event had both physical and virtual attendance.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed formally launched the plan. She was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi, while she joined via zoom.
Dignitaries physically present at the event included; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, former Governors of Borno State, Kashim Shettima and Ali Modu Sheriff, the Shehu of Borno among others.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, were among prominent personalities who joined via zoom.
Speaking at the occasion, Gov. Zulum said the plan included a 10-year transformation strategy that set out key priorities and action plans for the short, medium and long term.
His words: “The vision of this plan is to ensure that in the next 10 years, that is by 2030, we transform this insurgency-ravaged society into a peaceful, stable and self-reliant society with over 70 percent productive population.
“In the next 25 years, that is by 2045, we wish to deliver a secured and prosperous society that is a leading regional agri-business and commercial hub which connects and supplies the markets of Central Africa, to the south, the Nile valley to the east and North Africa to the North.
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“This will make Borno State to be the great stabilizing power in tropical Africa, a role which the old Borno Empire played for centuries.”
The governor identified five driving pillars which he said were critical to achieving the vision of the plan to include: Human Capital Development, Leadership in Agriculture, Healthy Citizenry, Sustainable Environment and Regional Trade Hub for Commerce that will deliver jobs and prosperity to the citizens.
“These pillars will stand on the strong foundations of Peace and Security; Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement; Purposeful infrastructure and, above all, Accountable Governance,’’ the governor added.
While launching the plan, Mrs. Ahmed commended the state government saying the plan was in consonance with the Federal Government’s “Medium Term Development Plan.’’
She further noted that the plan was timely in view of the challenges facing the state, adding that collaboration between Borno and the federal government would yield remarkable dividends for the people of the state.
Mr. Peter Hawkins of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) assured the state government of the UN’s sustained support to the implementation of policies and programmes that have direct bearing on the populace, particularly in the areas of peace and conflict resolution.
Also at the occasion, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Malam Isa Pantami, lauded Gov. Zulum for his optimism about the Borno project, while urging the people of the state to emulate him for positive results
