EXCLUSIVE: Borno Government Spends N1.8billion On Livelihood Support For 'Repentant' Boko Haram In Six Months

A SaharaReporters' review of the Borno State budget performance document for the first half of 2025 has shown that the state government spent a total of N1.8 billion on livelihood support for "repentant" Boko Haram members in just six months.

According to the data, while N1.8 billion was spent in the six-month period, N1.6 billion of that amount was disbursed between March and June 2025, representing the second quarter of the year.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that a total of N3.4 billion was spent between January and September 2024 for the same purpose. An additional N7.4 billion had been earmarked for the 2025 fiscal year.

In the same 2025 budget, the state plans to spend N11 billion on capital expenditure for its Basic Education Board.

This means that the state intends to allocate the equivalent of 67.2% of its basic education capital budget to livelihood support for repentant Boko Haram members.

The State Primary Healthcare Development Board’s capital expenditure budget stands at N8.7 billion.

This means the N7.4 billion earmarked for livelihood support is equivalent to 85% of the budget intended for healthcare infrastructure.

In fact, the state government spent only N359 million on the construction and provision of water facilities between January and September 2024, while N3.4 billion was spent during the same period on livelihood support for repentant Boko Haram members.

For 2025, N7.4 billion is budgeted for this programme, compared to just N4.3 billion allocated for water facilities, according to the state’s budget document.

Between January and September 2024, only N1.4 billion was spent on the rehabilitation of hospitals and health centres—less than half of the N3.4 billion spent on livelihood support for former insurgents.

The state spent N2.6 billion on the construction and provision of public schools during that same period, yet it still spent more — N3.4 billion — on supporting repentant Boko Haram members.

More was spent on this programme also than on road construction and maintenance, which received only N2.035 billion, according to official state government budget records.

While Borno State has been pumping billions into livelihood support for "repentant" Boko Haram members, it has failed to curb the persistent attacks on the state by the same sect.

Earlier in April, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum raised the alarm that Boko Haram terrorists were regrouping in the Tumbus area of Lake Chad and the Mandara Hills, both located within the Sambisa Forest.

While acknowledging the efforts of the military, he noted that challenges persist in effectively combating the escalating threat of terrorism and that these must be urgently addressed.

He stated that while the Nigerian Army is pursuing kinetic measures, it should also consider non-kinetic approaches, which are equally important.

“Borno State has, within the last three years, received more than 300,000 repentant Boko Haram fighters, and not all of them are fighters. Some of them are farmers,” he noted.

“Manpower is very essential. While I’m aware of the constraints of the Nigerian Army—because right now, you are everywhere in Nigeria: the Northeast, Northwest, North Central, as well as southern Nigeria—I’m aware of your limitations."

“But still, considering the northeastern region, the Nigerian Army should look into the possibility of sending more trained manpower. There is a difference between Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandits.”

He also emphasised that ISWAP and Boko Haram are receiving international support.

“ISWAP and Boko Haram are terrorists getting support internationally, and looking at our porous borders, they remain infiltrated through the Sahel, which is our major problem."

“If the Sahel is not secured, Nigeria will never be secured. So, there is a need for us to fortify the security situation in the Sahel with a view to ending the crisis in the entire nation.”

“We need air support. I know the kind of constraints you face accessing fighter helicopters and others, but attack helicopters are very important in these areas, and drones are also very important.”

“The last attack that happened in Wulgo, carried out by ISWAP and Boko Haram—a confirmed statement said it was carried out with the support of armed drones. They hit the MNJTF with drones.”

“This is the time for the Nigerian military to rise again and procure sophisticated drones and anti-drone equipment so that we get rid of these problems.”

While speaking at a Special Expanded Security Meeting in the same April, Zulum condemned the continuous attacks and kidnappings, noting that these incidents occur almost daily without significant resistance from security forces. 

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