Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has disclosed that security and humanitarian needs accounted for about 70 per cent of the state’s budget over the past seven years.
Zulum made the disclosure on Thursday in Maiduguri during a meeting involving United Nations officials and the steering committee overseeing UN Response to Mass Exits from Insurgency in North-East Nigeria Peacebuilding Fund projects.
The governor said a significant portion of the state’s expenditure went towards supporting internally displaced persons and refugees, reconstructing communities and providing livelihood assistance.
He explained that the high level of spending was largely driven by the devastating impact of the Boko Haram insurgency and the urgent need to rebuild communities affected by the conflict.
According to him, his administration has reconstructed schools, houses, healthcare facilities and markets while creating livelihood opportunities for residents affected by the insurgency.
Zulum expressed appreciation to UN agencies, development partners and donors for their support, saying Borno was gradually moving from emergency humanitarian assistance towards recovery, reconstruction and sustainable development.
He urged development partners to shift their focus from short-term interventions to long-term programmes that combine peacebuilding with economic development.
The governor stressed that sustainable peace would depend on employment opportunities, education, livelihoods, strong institutions and better prospects for young people.
He also called for improved coordination among development partners to ensure available resources reach communities with the greatest needs.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, said Nigeria still required international support to address its humanitarian and development challenges.
Bagudu said development assistance should align with Nigeria’s priorities, particularly in education, healthcare, human capital development, climate resilience and economic growth.
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