Zulum Declares 2026 ‘Year of Consolidation,’ Vows to Crush остатing Threats, Fast-Track Borno’s Recovery Projects

By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to addressing the remaining security challenges in state and ensuring the timely completion of critical projects across the state’s three senatorial districts.

The governor made the declaration during the first regular State Executive Council (SEC) meeting for 2026 at the Government House, Maiduguri, where he outlined his administration’s roadmap for deepening stability, accelerating reconstruction and strengthening social protection systems.

According to Umar Jimbarima, although relative peace has returned to many communities amid ongoing resettlement efforts, the Zulum administration remains resolute in consolidating security gains across all parts of the state.

Borno State, once the epicentre of insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East, has witnessed improved security in recent years due to sustained military operations under Operation Hadin Kai and coordinated efforts between federal and state authorities. However, sporadic attacks and isolated security breaches in some local government areas continue to pose challenges.

Governor Zulum told cabinet members and top officials that 2026 would be a “year of consolidation,” stressing that government must not relent until every community is safe and fully restored.

His administration has consistently supported federal security agencies with logistics, vehicles, housing and welfare interventions to enhance troop effectiveness. The state government has also invested in community-based security initiatives to complement federal operations.

Beyond security, Zulum said the state would intensify efforts toward the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), with a deliberate focus on medium- and long-term durable solutions to guarantee sustainable recovery.

Borno hosts one of the largest populations of conflict-affected persons in sub-Saharan Africa, with hundreds of thousands displaced at the peak of insurgency. Over the past few years, the state government has facilitated the return of many families to liberated communities, rebuilding homes, schools, health centres and markets to restore normalcy.

The governor emphasized that resettlement must go beyond relocation, insisting on livelihood support, access to education, healthcare services and economic empowerment to prevent dependency and reduce vulnerability.

Governor Zulum also disclosed plans to strengthen Borno’s social protection system, describing social security as central to his administration’s rebuilding agenda.

Over the years, the state has implemented conditional cash transfers, food distribution programmes and targeted support for widows, orphans and vulnerable households affected by insurgency. The renewed focus in 2026, according to the governor, will ensure that the most vulnerable populations are protected amid economic pressures and post-conflict recovery challenges.

The governor reiterated his directive that all ongoing projects across Borno North, Central and South senatorial districts must be completed on schedule. Since assuming office in 2019, Zulum’s administration has embarked on massive reconstruction of roads, schools, healthcare facilities and public buildings destroyed during the insurgency.

Key interventions include the rebuilding of educational institutions to boost school enrollment, construction of housing estates for resettled families, and expansion of healthcare infrastructure in rural communities.

Observers say the administration’s focus on equitable project distribution across the three senatorial districts has been central to rebuilding public trust and fostering inclusive development.

Declaring 2026 a defining year for Borno, Governor Zulum charged members of the State Executive Council to redouble their efforts in delivering measurable results.

With security gradually stabilizing and reconstruction advancing, stakeholders say the coming months will test the resilience of the state’s recovery strategy as Borno transitions from emergency response to long-term development planning.

For many residents, the governor’s renewed pledge signals continuity in a rebuilding process that has become both urgent and historic for Nigeria’s North-East.