Borno govt moves to reopen farming activities

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno on Sunday inspected some areas on the outskirts of Maiduguri in a move to re-open farming activities abandoned for several years, due to insurgency.

A statement by his spokesman, Isa Gusau, said the measure was a follow up on President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive for the resumption of farming activities.

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“Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum on Sunday visited Mulai and Dalwa communities and also met with security operatives, to begin modalities for re-opening of farmlands along that axis, so as to avoid livelihoods crisis.

“Zulum’s decision was in compliance with Thursday’s directive to the Nigerian military and other security agencies by President Buhari to work with the Borno State Government and come up with modalities that would allow people to access their farmlands,” Gusau said.

He said the governor also visited Dalwa, in Konduga local government, and later moved to Ngwom in Mafa Local Government, where he assessed farmlands and interacted with security operatives.

Gusau stated that Zulum had always held the view that keeping resettled communities out of agricultural activities could lead to serious food crisis in the state, as food aid from foreign and local donors was unsustainable.

He also announced that the governor would also open his personal farm to lead by example as encouragement for others.

“We have to develop resilience, we cannot sit down without a means of livelihood. I will also establish a personal farmland along this axis which I will visit on work free days”, Gusau quoted Zulum as saying.

During the visit, Zulum addressed farmers along the Maiduguri – Damboa highway, urging them to resume farming activities as from Monday.

The governor also inspected a 500 housing unit project in Molai village, where he expressed his dissatisfaction with the quality of work. (NAN)