Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State stated on Sunday that the Federal Government and security forces have successfully curtailed 90% of Boko Haram activities in the North-East region of Nigeria.
Speaking on Sunday Politics aired on Channels Television, Governor Zulum acknowledged that while significant progress has been made, pockets of Boko Haram insurgents remain active in certain areas of the state.
“As of now, insurgency has been reduced by over 90% in Borno State, but this did not happen in a day,” Zulum said.
“We still have pockets of Boko Haram, especially in the fringes of Lake Chad, the Sambisa Game Reserve, and the Mandara Hills.”
The governor pointed out that following a recent attack on Chadian soldiers by Boko Haram, Chadian authorities launched a decisive counter-offensive, pushing many of the insurgents back into Nigerian territory, particularly Borno State.
Zulum, reflecting on the insurgency that began in 2009, commended the Nigerian military, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and the people of Borno for their resilience. He expressed optimism that terrorism in the region could be eradicated within the next two years, citing ongoing cooperation with neighbouring countries such as Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Mali.
On the Tax Reform Bills
The governor also discussed the controversial tax reform bills recently introduced by President Bola Tinubu, explaining why northern governors had advised the President to reconsider the timing.
Zulum highlighted concerns that the proposed reforms would primarily benefit Lagos State while disadvantaging others, including northern states. Despite these concerns, he dismissed allegations of opposition to President Tinubu’s administration, pointing out that the northern region contributed over 60% of Tinubu’s votes in the 2023 elections.
The proposed tax reform bills, including the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 (SB.583) and the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2024 (SB.585), have advanced through the legislative process, passing a second reading in the Senate on 28 November.