December 10, (THEWILL) – Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has appealed to the World Bank for assistance in rebuilding bridges destroyed by recent floods and addressing the long-standing challenges posed by the silted Alau Dam.
Zulum made this call during a courtesy visit by the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Ndiame Diop, at the Government House in Maiduguri.
Highlighting the September 10 flood disaster, Zulum described its catastrophic effects on the state’s infrastructure and agriculture.
“Flooding has significantly affected our farmers. Without comprehensive dredging, we cannot solve this problem. We need increased support to address these challenges,” the governor emphasised, urging for technical and financial assistance to dredge waterways and acquire desilting equipment.
The governor lamented the extensive damage caused by the floods, which disrupted waterways, destroyed farmlands, and devastated critical infrastructure in the state.
Zulum also pointed out the broader challenges facing Borno, including recovery from over a decade of insurgency.
He revealed that the Boko Haram insurgency had inflicted more than $6 billion in infrastructure losses on the state.
The governor said, “Out of the $6.9 billion losses incurred across the Northeast, Borno accounts for about two-thirds.
“The insurgency destroyed critical infrastructure and disrupted livelihoods, but with support from the World Bank and other partners, we are rebuilding.”
Zulum praised the World Bank’s ongoing projects, including the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project, Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes and the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project.
He also appealed for expanded support to revitalize agriculture, particularly the South Chad Irrigation Scheme, which is vital for food security and economic recovery.
The governor further requested an expedited rollout of the Health Resilience Project to enhance healthcare services in the state.
Diop commended the Borno State Government for its progress in education, infrastructure rehabilitation, and recovery from insurgency.
“We have observed significant progress in technical education and infrastructure rehabilitation. Borno’s recovery efforts are commendable, and we are happy to support these initiatives,” Diop stated.
He highlighted ongoing World Bank interventions such as the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment and the Better Education Service Delivery for All projects, which are helping to rebuild schools and empower vulnerable populations.
“Borno is critical to Nigeria’s development, and we will continue to support your efforts in education, health, agriculture, and recovery from insurgency and climate-related challenges,” Diop affirmed.
Zulum alongside the World Bank delegation, inspected the flood-damaged Fori Bridge and the silted Alau Dam to assess the scale of destruction.
The visit underscores the critical partnership between the Borno State Government and international development agencies in addressing the state’s post-insurgency and climate-related challenges.
