As terror persists in the North-East, the Federal Government may soon establish a special security outfit to guard the Nigerian section of the Lake Chad shores to enable Nigerian farmers to cultivate their farms across the shores.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday following his Tuesday’s visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“I spoke with Mr. President and he assured me to look into establishing a solid security outfit in the Lake Chad Basin so that people can access the agricultural lands”, Zulum said.
The governor noted that with the gradual return of peace to Borno, the state was committed to harnessing all avenues that would facilitate development.
“Now that we are having relative peace in Borno State, there is a need for the government to ensure the re-establishment of the South Chad irrigation project.
“The South Chad irrigation project has tremendous potential to produce food to cater for the needs of the entire northern Nigeria or I can say even the whole country. But due to insecurity in the region, the irrigation scheme has not been functioning very well for a decade or more”.
Zulum underscored the importance of the resuscitation of the South Lake Chad irrigation projects food security, both in quantity and quality.
“Insha Allah, when these irrigation projects are reestablished, I believe the issue of food security will be addressed not only in Borno state but also in Nigeria”, he said.