President Mohammed Bazoum of the Republic of Niger on Tuesday decorated Borno Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, with the country’s Second-Order National Honour, “de Grand Officer dans I`Ordre”, which is the equivalent of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, in Nigeria’s ranking of national honours.
A statement by Isa Gusau, media aide to the governor, quoted President Bazoum as saying that he honoured Zulum after monitoring his courage, sincere fight against Boko Haram, deep concern on the plight of Borno citizens taking refuge in parts of the Niger Republic whom he has visited a number of times, offering support and steadily evacuating and resettling the refugees in new houses built in Borno.
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The decoration was performed in Zindar as part of events lined up by the Federal Government of Niger to celebrate the country’s Independence Day.
Zulum’s national award, “de Grand Officer dans I`Ordre”, is only second to “Grand Croix Des Ordre National Du Niger” which is the equivalent of GCFR, and only serving Presidents in Niger normally get the award.
It was the first time a Nigerien President would honour a Nigerian governor with the country’s second-highest national award.
Zulum said the honour would not make him relent in his devotion towards the Borno people, the statement said.
President Bazoum later invited Zulum to accompany him to commission the 138km Zindar road project and the 22 megawatts power project also in Zindar.
