TheCable

The Borno government is taking steps to restart farming activities in the state, after it had been abandoned for years owing to the insurgency in the north-east.

The insurgency in the region has led to the death of many residents, while thousands of persons have been displaced.

In a statement on Sunday, Isa Gusau, special adviser to the governor on communications and strategy, said some areas on the outskirts of Maiduguri have been inspected for farming purposes.

According to Gusau, the state government’s move is in line with the directive given by President Muhammadu Buhari to security agencies to ensure that residents are able to access their farms.

“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 livelihood crisis,” he said.

“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 the governor also visited Dalwa in Konduga LGA, and Ngwom in Mafa LGA, where he assessed farmlands and interacted with security operatives.

The aide said the governor intends to also open a farm to encourage residents to take up farming again.

“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 the governor as saying.

He added that the governor also inspected a 500 housing unit project in Molai village, where he expressed his dissatisfaction with the quality of work done so far.