President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given approval for key education and agricultural initiatives in Borno State.
Governor Babagana Zulum disclosed this to State House correspondents on Tuesday after meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
On the education front, Tinubu green-lighted the immediate take-off of the Federal College of Education in Gwoza, which had been established but not yet operationalized under the previous administration.
“I saw Mr. President on some issues relating to my state. One of the issue is that of the take-off of the federal College of Education Gwoza.
“You will recall that the previous administration had established some federal institutions but unfortunately, not all of them have taken off.
“The federal government decided to stagger the takeover of these institutions.
“However, I wrote to Mr. President on the need for the take-off of the federal College of Education Gwoza, a few months ago.
“I’m pleased to notify you that the President has given approval for the immediate takeoff of the federal College of Education Gwoza.
“That is something that is very important and very dear to the entire people of Borno State,” Zulum stated.
Turning to agriculture, the governor said he discussed reestablishing the South Chad Irrigation Project and Yauri Irrigation Scheme in northern Borno with the president.
The South Chad project has “tremendous potential” to boost food production for all of northern Nigeria and beyond, but has been hampered by over a decade of insecurity in the region.
Zulum revealed that Tinubu committed to deploying a “very strong security outfit” to secure the Lake Chad Basin area, allowing farmers to safely access agricultural lands.Reviving these two major irrigation schemes could address national food security concerns “in terms of quantity and quality,” according to the governor.
In addition to the education and agriculture initiatives, Zulum said he received Tinubu’s backing to resume the repatriation of Nigerian refugees living in Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
An exercise begun under the previous administration had stalled due to the election period and rainy season.
The governor stated that over the past six to seven years, at least 100,000 people have already been repatriated through official channels, with potentially more unofficial returns.
However, he plans to consult the National Commission for Refugees, NEMA and others before providing a figure on the remaining refugees requiring repatriation by this administration.
