Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state on Wednesday commissioned multi- billion housing estates and a magnificent Fly- Over bridge executed by the Borno State Government under the leadership of Professor Babagana Zulum.
The projects are the 500 -2bedroom self- content flats, 10 block/2- storey building of 72/ 3- bedroom flats Metro housing estate and Fly- Over bridge, dualized Shehu Umar Garbai/Bursari road and drainage networks all located within Maiduguri Metropolis.
This is as the newly commissioned 500 housing estate near Borno State University along Maiduguri-Damaturu- Kano road was named ‘Mai Mala Buni Housing Estate’ by Governor Zulum.
Just last Tuesday, three model schools built and equipped by World Bank in collaboration with the Borno State Government were commissioned within the Metropolis.
In his address, Governor Buni expressed his profound gratitude for the great honour done to him to commission some Zulum’s projects executed by the state government.
His words: “This honour done to me reflects the excellent age-long brotherhood that exists between our dear states (Yobe and Borno) and people. I deeply appreciate this recognition and honour.
“As we are all aware, Borno and Yobe states have always been one. We are a people binded by the same culture and tradition that are simply demarcated for administrative convenience.
“We have always identified with one another, shared the good and the challenging moments together. We have also shared the sad and unfortunate insurgency security challenge which claimed many precious lives, displaced millions of our people, and destroyed critical infrastructures, drawing us many years backwards.
“Today, Borno and Yobe states are both striving to emerge out of that challenge by adopting the Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery programme.
“On our part, we have invested heavily in education, Healthcare delivery, agriculture, and empowerment for sustainable means of livelihood to give the state and its people a promising future.
“This year, we launched a multi billion Naira agricultural empowerment programme which redefined agricultural production at the end of the harvest season. We equally supported flood victims, vulnerable persons, small and medium scale entrepreneurs with N2. 93 billion to stimulate economic growth.
“I am happy to state the interventions made by the two states are giving our states a solid foundation for a prosperous future”. Buni stated.
He enjoined beneficiaries take ownership of these projects and all other infrastructures provided by the government. It is your property, it is meant to serve you effectively and efficiently, you should therefore guard it jealously.
“Before I end this address, I wish to extend our profound gratitude to the federal government under the able leadership of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and his loyal Vice President, His Excellency Kashim Shettima GCON, for the various support extended to our states”. Buni added.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Governor Zulum who is the chief Host applauded Governor Buni and his entourage for finding time to visit Borno and unveiled numerous people -oriented projects executed by the present administration.
The Borno Governor, said, since inception, government has constructed over 10,000 housing units and allocated free to vulnerable groups and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), inline with his 10-Pact Agenda and 25- year transformation initiative to reposition the state for the better.
Zulum therefore named the newly commissioned Mairi Day Secondary school and the 10 block/2- storey building of 72/ 3- bedroom flats Metro housing estate after his boss, Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice -President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while the 500 housing estate at Jimtilo, near BOSU was named after Governor Mai Mala Buni.
Zulum said, the 2- story building of 72/ 3 bedroom flats at Metro would be allocated to federal civil servants who are working at various Zonal offices located in Maiduguri, even as he said, very soon, all the police quarters at Metro will be moved to some housing units at the 500- housing estate in Jimtilo to give room for the demolition exercise , and to prepare ground for building of a befitting International Conference Centre.