National Food Security: Borno State Governor Advocates For Revitalization Of Irrigation Projects

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure reestablishment of two irrigation projects in order to increase food security in Nigeria.

Zulum told journalists on Tuesday after a meeting with Tinubu that the South Chad and Yauri irrigation projects have been threatened by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Nigerians have been reeling under various internal issues, including the Boko Haram insurgency. The attacks have increased in the early 2020s. Boko Haram is responsible for bombings, kidnappings and the abduction of schoolgirls in north-eastern Nigeria to herder-farmer conflicts.

"Now that we are having relative peace in Borno State, there's need for the government to ensure reestablishment of South Chad irrigation project," Zulum told journalists, Premium Times reported, adding that the South Chad irrigation project has the "potential to produce food to cater for the needs of the entire northern Nigeria or I can say even the entire country."

The governor said to revitalize the project, the president should consider "establishing a very strong security outfit in the Lake Chad Basin so that people shall have access to the agricultural lands," adding that he also asked Tinubu for the revitalization of the Yauri irrigation project.

"Inshallah, when these two irrigation projects are reestablished, I believe the issue of food security will be addressed not only in Borno State but also in Nigeria," the governor explained.

Governor Zulum also talked to the president about Nigerians seeking refuge in Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. Many are from Borno State, fleeing insecurity in their communities.

"We have started repatriating them during the last administration. But because of the election period and rainy season, we stopped the repatriation exercise," he said, noting that Tinubu has promised to resume the repatriation exercise.

Food insecurity is one of the major issues in the country as the president announced fuel subsidy removal last year, causing hiked fuel and food prices.

Earlier this month, Nigerian residents looted a government warehouse in the country's capital Abuja City to grab food items as the country deals with an economic crisis. Similarly, last year in July, thousands of Nigerian youth attacked the NEMA warehouses in Kaduna and Adamawa states.