Gov. Zulum Moves To Enhance Borno-Chad Transborder Trade, Agriculture

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, on Monday, November 20, ferried over 20km on the Nigerian side of the Lake Chad at Baga to reopen avenues for resuscitating transborder trade between the state and Chad Republic

Transborder trade between the two entities dwindled to a virtual non-existence over the last 13 years due to the activities of the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists who have maintained a firm grip on the Chad Basin.

Zulum was also at Baga to assess portions of Lake Chad towards his government’s plan to enhance agricultural activities along the shores of the basin.

The governor noted during his assessment that with agricultural activities picking up along the Lake Chad shores, the returnee communities would have sources of livelihood.

“We are here to see how we can support large-scale farming, this town was ravaged by the insurgents and people were resettled back about last two or three years,” the governor said.

He stated: “Our first objective is to see how we can support the Army and the Navy to clear the waterways so that movement by boat from Baga to Chad can commence which will enhance transborder trade and agriculture.”

The governor was accompanied by the member representing Kukawa at the State Assembly, Kirta Maina Ma’aji, MD Chad Basin Development Authority, Engr Abba Garba, the Borno State Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affair, Sugun Mai Mele, that of Agriculture, Engr Bawu Musami, MD Borno State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Engr Mohammed Musa Aliyu and members of the Borno State Agricultural Transformation Committee.