Zulum Eyes Marte Returns as he Pushes Health, Security Support in Monguno

By Abubakar H. Muhammad (9News Nigeria, Northeast)

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has linked immediate aid for displaced persons in Monguno to broader plans for resettling over 50,000 returnees in Marte, during a Sunday visit focused on humanitarian needs, health services, and security coordination.

Zulum said the state is working with military leadership to deliver short-term relief in water, shelter, and sanitation while preparing medium and long-term solutions that allow displaced families to return to their ancestral communities.

“We have examined the situation critically alongside the hierarchy of the Nigerian military, and it has been concluded that we shall provide immediate humanitarian support to these displaced communities, especially in the areas of water, shelter, and sanitation,” Zulum stated.

“Apart from this, we shall also ensure that medium and longer-term sustainable solutions are being adopted, which is acceptable to this community and their ancestral home,” he said.

“We will improve the living conditions of the displaced persons; we will not allow our citizens to endure such hardship without urgent government intervention.”

He directed the SSG, commissioners for Local Government and Internal Security, and the Marte LGA chairman to draw up implementation plans for the adopted recommendations.

The governor used the visit to spotlight healthcare delivery under strain, meeting staff at Monguno Eye Hospital and announcing financial support to boost staff welfare and service continuity.

He also received a security brief at Forward Operation Base Mairari and urged communities to share timely information with security agencies, calling it a shared responsibility.

“Security is everybody’s business. Communities must continue to support security agencies with timely and useful information,” the governor stated.

Zulum was accompanied by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, House Speaker Abdulkarim Lawan, Hon. Bukar Talba, SSG Bukar Tijani, Commissioner for Information Prof. Usman Tar, and Commissioner for Local Government Hon. Sugun Mai Mele.

The visit reflects the administration’s approach of pairing immediate humanitarian response with resettlement and service restoration across the Lake Chad Basin.