By Abdulkareem Haruna

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced the establishment of a N3 billion quarry plant in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, as part of a strategic shift to bypass contractor withdrawal caused by regional insecurity.

Speaking on Monday at the Government House during the distribution of 70 brand-new Howo pickup trucks to the Ministry of Works and the State Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA), Zulum explained that the facility is designed to process 120 tons of granite, gravel, and sand per hour.

The Governor noted that the state government was compelled to strengthen its internal capacity because most private contractors are no longer willing to risk deploying heavy equipment to rural project sites due to prevailing security threats.

The newly commissioned fleet of 70 trucks is intended to boost the operational reach of the Ministry of Works, enabling the swift delivery of construction materials and faster emergency interventions on distressed road networks.

Zulum emphasized that while his administration has recorded significant milestones in health, education, and agriculture, the lack of rural road connectivity remains a critical challenge that requires direct government intervention.

By sourcing construction materials locally through the Pulka quarry, the state aims to reduce its heavy dependence on external suppliers, thereby lowering the overall cost of infrastructure development.According to the Governor, the move to empower the Ministry of Works and BORMA through direct labor reflects the reality that the state must lead its own reconstruction efforts when the private sector retreats.

He reinstated that strengthening the capacity of the state’s special projects and monitoring departments is the only viable option to ensure that rural communities are not left behind.

The brief ceremony was attended by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani; the Acting Chief of Staff, Dr. Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Engr. Baware; and BORMA Chairman, Engr. Sadu Auno, alongside other senior government officials.