By Abdullahi Alhassan
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Thursday relocated official government business to the Biu Zonal Department of Monitoring, Evaluation and Special Projects Office in Biu Local Government Area, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to decentralising governance and bringing public service closer to the people.
The Governor’s decision to operate from the zonal office was aimed at demonstrating that governance should not be confined to the Government House in Maiduguri but should be accessible to communities across the state.
The move also underscored his resolve to strengthen project monitoring, improve service delivery and accelerate development in Southern Borno.
While in Biu, Governor Zulum held a strategic security meeting with the Sector 2 Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Brigadier General Edet Effiong, and the Commander of the 29 Task Force Brigade, Benisheikh, to review the security situation and consolidate recent gains recorded in ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
Thursday’s engagement marked the first time the Governor officially conducted state affairs from the Biu Zonal Office since its establishment in 2022.
The facility, created under the Governor’s Office, was designed to enhance accountability, strengthen monitoring and evaluation of government projects, and fast-track infrastructural development across the Southern Borno Senatorial District.
The Biu office is one of three zonal administrative centres established by the Zulum administration, alongside similar offices in Monguno and Bama serving the Northern and Central Senatorial Districts respectively.
The initiative forms part of the administration’s broader strategy of decentralising government operations and ensuring closer engagement with communities across Borno State.
Since assuming office in 2019, Governor Zulum has consistently adopted a grassroots approach to governance, making regular visits to all 27 local government areas to inspect projects, interact with residents and assess the implementation of government programmes.
In addition to operating from the Government House, he has frequently conducted official engagements from the Musa Usman Secretariat, which serves as his second operational office.
The Governor is currently on a working tour of Southern Borno, during which he has unveiled several development and empowerment initiatives.
On Wednesday, he flagged off the 2026 Wet Farming Season in Kwaya Kusar Local Government Area and launched the sale and distribution of 200 truckloads of NPK fertiliser at a 50 per cent subsidised rate.
The programme also featured the distribution of free agrochemicals, knapsack sprayers, certified seeds, water pumps and 10,000 bicycles to small holder farmers.
During a courtesy visit to the Emir of Biu, Alhaji (Dr.) Mustapha Umar Mustapha II, Governor Zulum announced the employment of 100 unemployed graduates from Biu Local Government Area as part of efforts to reduce youth unemployment, curb political thuggery and tackle other social vices.
He also met with members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Biu, approving a welfare package of ₦50,000 for each corps member.
Nursing mothers among the corps members are to receive an additional ₦200,000 each, while the NYSC Zonal Inspector was granted ₦250,000.
Other NYSC officials, including the Liaison Officer, received ₦100,000 each in recognition of their dedication and service.
