Borno Allocates Billions to Repentant Boko Haram Members While Education, Healthcare, and Infrastructure Remain Underfunded
Amid relentless attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State, the state government continues to allocate billions of naira to provide “livelihood support” to self-proclaimed repentant members of the sect, according to a SaharaReporters review of budget documents.
The funds are designated for the disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration of former Boko Haram members.
Between January and September 2024, the state spent N3.4 billion on the programme. For 2025, an additional N7.4 billion has been earmarked.
CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE BELOW AFTER THESE IMPORTANT NOTICES
Log in to primsol.lawpavilion.com and store.lawpavilion.com to enjoy the best E-journals, textbooks, and many more. For further enquiries/assistance, send an email to customercare@lawpavilion.com or call 08050298729
In comparison, the 2025 budget allocates N11 billion to capital expenditure for the State Basic Education Board. This means the N7.4 billion set aside for repentant terrorists equals 67.2% of the entire budget for basic education across the state.
The budget for capital expenditure by the State Primary Healthcare Development Board stands at N8.7 billion—only slightly more than the amount planned for former terrorists. The N7.4 billion set aside represents 85% of the total allocated to primary healthcare infrastructure.
Between January and September 2024, just N359 million was spent on constructing and providing water facilities, while N3.4 billion went to livelihood support for repentant Boko Haram members. In 2025, N4.3 billion is budgeted for water provision and construction—significantly less than what is planned for reintegration efforts.
The same pattern appears in other critical sectors. Only N1.4 billion was spent on rehabilitating hospitals and health centres during the first nine months of 2024, less than half of what was used for livelihood support to former Boko Haram members. Public school infrastructure received N2.6 billion over that same period, and roads got even less—N2.035 billion—both still trailing behind the N3.4 billion disbursed to ex-terrorists.
Despite these massive investments, Boko Haram has continued its violent campaign in the state.
In April, Governor Babagana Zulum warned that Boko Haram elements were regrouping in the Lake Chad Tumbus and Mandara Hills areas within the Sambisa Forest. While acknowledging the military’s efforts, he stressed that several challenges still hamper the fight against terrorism and must be addressed urgently.
He emphasised the importance of combining military operations with non-kinetic strategies, stating that more than 300,000 Boko Haram members—many of them reportedly farmers—have surrendered over the past three years.
Zulum highlighted the need for increased manpower, noting that the Nigerian Army is stretched thin across multiple regions of the country. He also pointed out the growing threat posed by both Boko Haram and ISWAP, which he said receive international support and infiltrate the country through porous Sahelian borders.
“The Sahel must be secured if Nigeria is to be secured,” the governor said. He stressed the urgent need for air support, including the procurement of attack helicopters and advanced drone capabilities.
He revealed that a recent attack in Wulgo—attributed to ISWAP and Boko Haram—was carried out using armed drones, which struck the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF). He called on the military to acquire both drones and anti-drone technology to counter such threats.
Speaking at a Special Expanded Security Meeting in April, Zulum condemned the frequent attacks and kidnappings occurring almost daily in the state without adequate military resistance. He described the situation as a major setback for both Borno and the broader Northeast.
“As I address this important gathering today, it is unfortunate that the renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities almost on a daily basis without confrontation signal that Borno State is losing ground,” he said.
Boko Haram continues to kill residents across the state, with thousands of lives already lost to the group’s unrelenting violence.
FOR SUPPORT TO BARRISTERNG BLOG, DONATE TO: 1. NAIRA ACCOUNT: 1023046978 - UBA 2. USD ACCOUNT: 5090743566 - FIDELITY BANK PLC
Call Bridget Edokwe Esq on 08060798767 or send your articles to barristerngblog@gmail.com
A Must-Have for Every Lawyer: Order Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye’s Latest Books on Electronic Evidence Today: To order your copies, click the link below and order directly from the author:
https://velvety-cendol-7387ed.netlify.app/
SHOP NOW
The Price is 10k for Hard Copy less freight and 5k for E- Book copy in the Store of the Website. https://buokorie.com/store/ To access the hard copy, Call - 07087622283
