In a bid to bolster food security efforts, the federal government plans to set up a robust military presence in the Lake Chad Basin area.
Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, revealed this after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.
The move is aimed to facilitate the revival of the South Chad Irrigation Project, which has tremendous potential to produce food for northern Nigeria and the entire country but has been hampered by insecurity in the region over the past decade.
“Now that we are having relative peace in Borno state, there’s a need for the government to ensure the re-establishment of the South Chad Irrigation Project.
“I spoke with the President, and he will look into the possibility of establishing a very strong security outfit in the Lake Chad Basin so that people shall have access to the agricultural lands,” Zulum said.
The governor emphasised that reviving the South Chad irrigation scheme in Northern Borno could significantly boost food production and address the nation’s food security concerns in terms of both quantity and quality.
The governor also disclosed that the repatriation of Nigerians living in Chad, Niger Republic, and Cameroon, which was halted due to the election period and rainy season, will resume with President Tinubu’s commitment.
On the Safe Schools Initiative, Zulum stated that most schools in Borno State have been fenced, with military, cCvilian JTF, hunters, and vigilantes deployed to safeguard students, successfully preventing abductions.
So far, the governor said over 100,000 people have been repatriated to Borno in the last six to seven years, with more expected to follow the renewed efforts.
