Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno on Sunday inspected some areas on the outskirts of Maiduguri to re-open farming activities abandoned for several years due to insurgency.
A statement by Special Adviser to the governor on Communications and Strategy, Mallam Isa Gusau, said the measure was a follow up on President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive for the resumption of farming activities.
“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, to avoid livelihoods crisis.
“Zulum’s decision complied 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 explained that 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 always had believed 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, and we can not sit down without a means of livelihood. I will also establish 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.
