TheCable

Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno, has praised automobile spare-parts’ traders, mostly of Igbo extraction, for not leaving the state despite the security challenge.

Zulum, who visited “Bola”, Maiduguri’s most popular market for automobile parts, assured the Igbo traders that his administration would soon come up with a package to boost their business.

The governor had recently constructed roads in the market to end difficulties faced by the traders and their customers.

“For the last decade you have remained firm, and you have been with us all the time. Even, during the peak of the insurgency, even when our people are leaving the state. You people have been selling spare parts here,” he said.

“The Igbo communities that are doing their businesses here are our brothers. Therefore, very soon government of Borno state will provide financial assistance to you.”

He also charged the traders to maintain a hygienic environment.

The governor then proceeded to the state’s pension office where he inspected ongoing renovation work.

He directed the permanent secretary in charge of pensions to relocate after the work is completed to enable pensioners have easy access to the authorities.

Among the north-eastern states affected by insurgency, Borno is the worse hit.

Over  20 soldiers were reportedly killed in an ambush by Boko Haram insurgents earlier in the month.

The soldiers were attacked along the Maiduguri-Damboa road as they were returning from a five-day clearance operation.