Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has felicitated with the Christian community across the state on the occasion of Christmas.
Zulum urged all citizens of the state, irrespective of faith, to unite in the collective pursuit of lasting security, peaceful coexistence and harmonious relations, which he described as the most critical foundation for effective reconstruction, recovery and prosperity.
In a message issued on Thursday by his spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, the governor expressed gratitude to God Almighty for the return of relative peace to the state.
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“For us in Borno State, the period between the 2024 and 2025 Christmas celebrations has been a full year of celebrating enviable, all-encompassing reconstruction and recovery,” Zulum said.
He added: “The progress is not only in terms of physical infrastructure, but also in the peace and forbearance, mutual goodwill and harmonious coexistence among the Muslim and Christian communities, which our beleaguered state critically needs to launch itself back to prosperity and its glorious past.”
Zulum further stated: “I feel obliged to express my most heartfelt gratitude to God for enabling me to preside over the affairs of the state for one full year, witnessing a gladdening restoration and sustenance of the required peace, mutual goodwill and harmony between the Muslim and Christian communities. These bonds had tightly united us as one people but were threatened by over a decade of Boko Haram insurgency.”
He noted that a key aspect of rebuilding Muslim-Christian harmony was his recent high-level consultative meeting with the leadership of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which focused on strengthening collaboration between the state government and religious bodies to combat lingering insecurity and foster lasting peace in Borno State.
“At that meeting, I underscored the critical role of religious leaders in promoting tolerance, unity and peace across the state, because Borno, like many other states, has unique and beautiful family composition dynamics,” he said.
“It is common to find, under one roof, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts who profess different faiths. We share meals, celebrate festivities and milestones, and grieve losses together as one family, bound by blood and love that transcends religious labels. This is our reality.
“I stressed that our enviable strength emanates from this reality. We must therefore protect this sacred bond within our homes and allow it to define our individual as well as intra- and inter-community engagements.”
Zulum also disclosed that, in keeping with his tradition of just, fair and equitable treatment of all communities during festive seasons, his administration this year extended support to the Christian community and non-indigenes. The support includes free transportation for non-indigenes to different parts of the country, humanitarian assistance to over 6,000 vulnerable Christians, cash gifts to widows and orphans, sponsorship of Christian pilgrimages, and other interventions.
“I am always disposed to rendering such support, and even more, whenever the need arises,” he said.
The governor is currently on a four-day tour aimed at boosting security and resilience across northern Borno.
The tour includes visits to military formations to boost troop morale, as well as communities affected by insurgency, where he is working to rebuild confidence and deliver tangible democratic dividends.
