By Gbenga Akingbule.
In a clear move and strong determination to revamp the Heath Care Delivery System in Borno State, the State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum on Monday presented the total sum of ₦584.76 billion 2025 appropriation bill before the State House of Assembly with the Health Sector getting the lion share of ₦89.97 billion which represent 15.39% of the total budget size.
Gatekeepers News reports that the budget comprises a Capital Expenditure of ₦380.84 billion and a Recurrent Expenditure of ₦203.92 billion. It will be financed through Recurrent Revenue from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) of ₦311.70 billion, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of ₦30.09 billion, and Capital Receipts of ₦237.96 billion, which include aid, grants, and a Capital Development Fund.
The aim of the huge allocation to the health sector which now surpasses the 15% budgetary allocation recommended by African Leaders for the health sector annually is a deliberate step to prioritise the health needs of the citizens, says Comrade Dauda Iliya, Special Adviser on Media and Official spokesman of Governor Zulum.
Comrade Iliya revealed that Governor Zulum will be carrying out massive construction of Hospitals, procurement of hospital equipment, and employment of health workers amongst others.
“Governor Zulum decided to go beyond the 15% Abuja Declaration annual budgetary allocation to the health sector due to his genuine commitment towards transforming the health care delivery system in the state,” Iliya said.
The Governor is also set to complete the construction and commissioning of the Borno State University Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri and the expansion of the State Health Insurance Scheme for civil servants and vulnerable citizens across the 27 Local Government Areas.
“Enrol civil servants into the State Health Insurance Scheme, expand the enrolment of vulnerable indigenes across the 27 Local Government Areas into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
“The Borno State primary health care development agency would revitalise 100 Primary health care centres in the state and plan to construct 6 additional primary health care centres and upgrade 6 PHCs to comprehensive health centres,” Zulum added.
Taking the second position after the health sector, the education sector which was allocated ₦69.81 billion, Governor Zulum highlighted that the plan to establish a new Second Chance School, construction of five additional Mega Schools and five Mega High Islamic Schools, rehabilitation of facilities in 50 schools across the state.
Zulum announced the procurement of food items worth ₦10 billion to address food insecurity, cultivation of 100,000 hectares for rain-fed farming and 50,000 hectares for irrigation and investment in large-scale Firgi farming.
“In the next fiscal year, the government will invest in programmes aimed at stimulating local economic activities, supporting small businesses and attracting investment”.
He emphasised that the state government has released the sum of ₦22 billion for victim support and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare facilities. Other major projects include
Other priority projects in the 2025 budget include the establishment of Maiduguri Dry Port, the Dualization of a 7.1km stretch of Maiduguri-Biu Road and the construction of a 6-span bridge across River Ngaddabul as well as the Modernisation of Borno Radio and Television (BRTV).
