Markets closed amidst tight security as Buhari visits, commissions projects in Maiduguri

Major business activities were shut down in Maiduguri, Borno state capital on Thursday as president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, paid an official working visit to the state.

The president, whose aircraft arrived Maiduguri at 9:45am was received by the state governor, Babagana Zulum, and all the service chiefs led by the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor.

The president, this time around, received a cheery welcome by residents who were mobilised by Governor Zulum to give him a happy welcome.

All markets and local businesses businesses along the main routes remained shut down as streets became a little bit scanty.

The president is visiting Borno for the first time since his last visit 14 months ago when he was booed by angry residents over his inability to stem the rising insecurity in the state.

The president had immediately moved to Government Technical College, Njimtilo, where he commissioned the new facility before moving to the nearby Borno state University where he commissioned the new institution’s Senate building.

From there, the president drove to Maimalari Cantonment barracks where he met and addressed the frontline troops.

At the barracks, after being welcomed by the acting Theater Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Major General FO Omoigui, the president commended the “resilience” of the troops, even as he reminded them that “there is still more work to be done” in northeast as well as the central and western parts of the north.

The president left the barracks to the new Abbaganram Comprehensive Health Center, where he cut the tape and moved on to commission the new Borno state Enterprise Institute.

The convoy of the president moved on to the ‘1020 Resettlement Housing’ estate at Kaleri suburbs where he go the project commissioned. From there the president was driven to the Government Day Technical School Goni-kachallari for yet another commissioning.

More details to come later…