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Borno Lawmakers Budget N1Billion For Independence, Democracy Day Celebrations Amid Insecurity, Displacement, Hunger

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February 6, 2026

Another sum of N2 billion was budgeted for the construction of a “New main Assembly Complex.”

A SaharaReporters review of the Borno State approved budget document for the 2026 fiscal year has shown that lawmakers in the state plan to spend N1 billion to celebrate Independence Day and Democracy Day within the House of Assembly.

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Another sum of N2 billion was budgeted for the construction of a “New main Assembly Complex.”

The lawmakers also allocated N200 million for the purchase of three 150KVA generators.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the Borno State Government earmarked N150 million to feed sheep and goats kept within the Government House.

The allocation is contained in the approved budget estimates for the 2026 fiscal year published by the state government on its official website.

The description of the budget item, which is domiciled under Government House expenditure, reads: “General purchase of feeding for various Sheep and Goat within the Government House.”

A breakdown of the N150 million allocation over 365 days indicates that the sheep and goats would consume feed worth an average of N410,958 daily. On a weekly basis, their feeding cost is estimated at about N2.8 million.

In addition, the Borno State Government plans to purchase kitchen equipment valued at N50 million for use within the Government House.

Previously, a SaharaReporters review of the Borno State 2025 full-year budget performance document revealed that the state government spent N4.3 billion on “livelihood support for Repentant Boko Haram members” during the year.

The document showed that N1.6 billion of the total amount was disbursed between October and December 2025 alone, representing expenditure over a three-month period.

In contrast, the total capital expenditure of the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Board for the entire 2025 fiscal year stood at N2 billion, more than N2 billion less than what was spent on the livelihood support programme for former insurgents.

Similarly, the capital expenditure for the Borno State University Teaching Hospital in 2025 was N2.7 billion, also lower than the amount spent on the reintegration programme.

The capital expenditure of the state’s Hospital Management Board stood at N3.1 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, which was still less than the N4.3 billion spent on rehabilitating Repentant Boko Haram members.

An earlier SaharaReporters review also showed that between January and September 2024, the Borno State Government spent N3.45 billion on livelihood support under the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme for “repentant Boko Haram” members.

Borno State continues to face serious insecurity challenges in early 2026, with ongoing insurgent activity, humanitarian crises, and military operations.

While the Nigerian military has recently destroyed terrorist camps and freed captives, attacks and displacement remain widespread, leaving millions in need of urgent aid.

Insurgent attacks remain frequent in Borno, particularly in rural and border areas. These attacks have contributed to worsening hunger and malnutrition across the state.