W/Bank commissions Zulum’s legacy projects

The Country Director of the World Bank in Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, on Monday commissioned seven landmark projects executed by the administration of Babagana Umara Zulum in Borno State. The projects — comprising a flyover bridge, three mega schools and three dual-carriageway roads — underscore the state government’s push for post-insurgency urban renewal and human capital […]

The Country Director of the World Bank in Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, on Monday commissioned seven landmark projects executed by the administration of Babagana Umara Zulum in Borno State.

The projects — comprising a flyover bridge, three mega schools and three dual-carriageway roads — underscore the state government’s push for post-insurgency urban renewal and human capital development.

Verghis commended Governor Zulum’s leadership and reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting development initiatives in the state.

“These schools are more than buildings; they send a powerful message to every young person that their future matters, and to every family that has endured hardship that there is hope,” he said.

The educational facilities commissioned include the 30-classroom Government Secondary School, Mainusari, Mairi; the 30-classroom Mega Primary School, Maimusari; and the 20-classroom Command Secondary School, Maiduguri.

Other projects inaugurated were the West End Flyover Bridge, the 1.53-kilometre Sultan Mainalari Dual Carriage Road, the 2.3-kilometre Bursari Dual Carriage Road and the 2.4-kilometre Shehu Sanda Kura Dual Carriage Road.

Governor Zulum noted that over 5,000 classrooms were destroyed at the height of the insurgency, leaving about 2.2 million children out of school.

He said his administration has since constructed 104 new schools and rehabilitated 2,931 classrooms, reducing out-of-school numbers by over 70 per cent to fewer than 800,000, while enrolment has risen to over 1.4 million pupils as of December 2025.

Zulum added that the state has distributed millions of learning materials, implemented school feeding programmes and expanded vocational and Islamic education reforms, alongside constructing over 412 kilometres of roads and multiple flyovers to drive economic growth.