By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
BORNO State Government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum said, it will appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rescind the decision by the federal government of merging Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) with Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA), in view of the gap in western education which is worsen by effect of the decade of Boko Haram devastation in Borno and other neighboring states.
It would be recalled that the Orosanye Committee report adopted by the federal government seeks to merge or scrap several institutions with duplicating functions as a means of cutting cost in governance .
In an early morning address to newsmen on Thursday, while distributing palliatives to 100,000 households in Maiduguri, Zulum said that Boko Haram insurgents have achieved their objectives if the university is scrapped.
“Therefore, we appeal to Mr President to look into this issue so that the army university Biu would remain as University.
“If this is not possible, may be they don’t want to create another army university, we appeal to the President to allow the Federal Ministry of Education to take over the Army University to become a conventional University. This is also something we shall plead to the FG.
“If it’s possible they should allow it as Army university because of the importance of education in this part of the country, where Boko Haram is saying that education is forbidden. And l think, by allowing this Army University to be scrapped, they might have achieved one or two of their objectives” he said.
The governor noted that, for over a decade, Borno state has been facing a serious crisis that denied many children access to education, “therefore, this university is very important to not only the people of Borno State but our neighboring states” he said.
Zulum, who reasoned with the federal government on its quest to reposition the system to reflect current realities, said the quantum of students absorbed by the institution is something to be considered.
Similarly, the governor made a case for the National Center for Agric Mechanisation, Ilorin.
He said, at this material time, when the Federal government is looking towards promoting food security through sustainable agriculture, the center is very important.
“This is the only mechanization outfit in Nigeria that is saddled with the responsibility of agricultural tools and
“I believe a technical committee would be set up, and we shall recommend to the presidency to review some of the decisions with a view to adding value to what he has done.
“By and large, I have to commend the initiative and we are behind the initiative,” he added.
