Borno Government Spends ₦10.8 Billion on Repentant Boko Haram Members Despite Ongoing Attacks, Budgets Another ₦7.4 Billion for 2025

Despite a continuing wave of deadly attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists across Borno State, the Borno State Government has spent more than ₦3.4 billion on livelihood support for so-called repentant Boko Haram members between January and September 2024, with plans to increase that spending to ₦7.4 billion in the 2025 fiscal year.

A review of the state’s budget documents by Sahara Reporters reveals that the funds are allocated under the “Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR)” programme aimed at rehabilitating surrendered Boko Haram fighters and reintegrating them into society.

In total, the state is set to spend ₦10.8 billion in two years on former insurgents, even as communities across Borno continue to suffer from attacks, abductions, and insecurity.

Spending on Repentant Insurgents Surpasses Key Infrastructure Budgets

The budgetary priorities have sparked concern, with comparisons showing that funds allocated for ex-insurgents far exceed those for essential public services.

According to the 2025 budget:

• The Borno State Basic Education Board will receive ₦11 billion for capital expenditure — just 48% more than the ₦7.4 billion reserved for former insurgents.
• The State Primary Healthcare Development Board is allocated ₦8.7 billion, making the DDR allocation equivalent to 85% of the entire primary healthcare capital budget.
• In 2024, only ₦359 million was spent on water infrastructure, while ₦3.4 billion went to livelihood support for repentant Boko Haram members.
• The state spent ₦1.4 billion on hospital rehabilitation, ₦2.6 billion on school construction, and ₦2.035 billion on road development — all significantly lower than the DDR programme expenditure.

Zulum Acknowledges Resurgence of Boko Haram

In April, Governor Babagana Zulum raised alarm over the renewed strength of insurgent groups in the region, warning that Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters were regrouping in the Tumbus area of Lake Chad and the Mandara Hills within Sambisa Forest.

Speaking at a Special Expanded Security Meeting, Zulum expressed frustration over the rising number of attacks and kidnappings.

“The renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities almost on a daily basis without confrontation signal that Borno State is losing ground,” Zulum stated.

He stressed the importance of air power, drones, and anti-drone technology, citing a recent ISWAP attack in Wulgo carried out with armed drones against the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

Zulum also emphasized that the military must increase manpower in the region, acknowledging that more than 300,000 ex-insurgents had surrendered over the past three years, though not all were fighters.

The state’s generous DDR programme has become a topic of national controversy, with many Nigerians questioning the wisdom of allocating billions to former insurgents while basic infrastructure remains underfunded and insecurity persists.

Despite the government’s efforts at non-kinetic solutions, Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to pose a major threat, with hundreds of civilians killed and displaced in recent months.