Zulum presents 2021 Appropriation Bill of N208 billion in Borno

By Michy Abraham in Maiduguri

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum on Wednesday proposed N208 billion for the 2021 fiscal year.

The governor in order to meet with the state’s development plan proposed 65 percent of the budget for capital project with the rest to take care of recurrent expenditures.

The Governor, during his presentation at the state assembly in Maiduguri, proposed N135.1b for capital expenditure, which translates to 65 percent and N72.7 billion for recurrent expenditure representing 35 percent.

Zulum also said, the budget will be financed from the statutory allocation and with improved internally generated revenue.

The governor, said the budget which is christened: “The People’s Budget of Recovery and consolidation” is budget aim at laying the foundation for implementation of a development plan with 25-years target, and initial 10 years phase, recently launched by his administration.

Zulum in his sectoral allocations proposedN16.2 billion for education being the highest; N15.7 billion for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement of IDPs and refugees; N11.7 billion was allocated to works for construction and rehabilitation of roads in many parts of the state, which are to include rehabilitation of Damboa – Biu road, Chibok – Askira Road, Jiddari Polo road, Customs Flyover, Dualization of post office to Gwange Grave yard, Dualization of Customs to Muna road, laying of Maiduguri – Bama road, urban renewal of Askira and Monguno among others.

He also announced proposed N10.4 billion for healthcare projects including construction of an Orthopedic hospital and funding of ongoing Borno State University Teaching Hospital.

Agriculture was allocated N9.4 billion and N5.7 billion to Borno State Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA) while N4.2 billion was allocated for housing and energy towards construction of new city estate of 500 houses in Maiduguri and shopping complexes in each of the state’s senatorial district.Other sectors got lower allocations depending on the budget focus.

Also in the proposed budget, the Governor plans to support 100,000 farmers on irrigation farming and expand outreach to all local governments.

Zulum in his review of 2020 fiscal year recalled few of the projects executed to include construction of 22 roads including road network of 43 kilometers with 30 kilometer of drainage, total overlay of 15 kilometers and ongoing overlay of 13.2 kilometers totaling 71.2 kilometers while the first ever flyover in the stage was 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.