Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has announced a cash donation of N23.5m as a support to families of 47 soldiers killed by Boko Haram insurgents last Sunday in Yobe state.
The governor, while addressing the widows on Friday at the Maimalari Military Barracks in Maiduguri, also approved an SME support to the widows.
According to him, each family was to receive N500,000 not as compensation for losing priceless lives but as social protection at tough economic times caused by COVID-19 inspired lockdowns across the country.
He directed that an accurate and verifiable list of all widows and families be compiled with each identifying her choice of small scale business and bank account details attached to every name so that government can transfer startups to them.
“You the widows and those married women with children have bore the impact of the sacrifices made by your soldier-husbands. We know your pains and we share them. We are mightily proud of your husbands and we salute them and you who stood by them.
“We will support you in ways we can and we will support you directly through your bank accounts so that you start business and boost the ones you are doing,” Zulum said to the women.
Zulum, who was received by the G.O.C, 7-Division of the Nigerian army, Brigadier General A.K Ibrahim, said he came to convey condolences and solidarity with the military’s ‘operation lafiya dole’ which is involved in the fight against the insurgents.
While at the Maimalari Barrack, Governor Zulum announced the release of additional transformer to enhance power supply.
Zulum, as confirmed by the 7-Div GOC, had weeks back, released a transformer already being used at the barrack.
He also promised to renovate a dilapidated primary school used by children of soldiers at the barrack in order to increase access to education.
Soldiers and their families openly expressed gratitude to the Governor whom the GOC, General Ibrahim described as a true father that has accorded genuine support and empathy for the military.
