Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has revealed plan to resettle over 50,000 farmers displaced by Boko Haram insurgency in Koshebe area and its environs back to their ancestral homes to boost agricultural activities in the state.
Zulum disclosed this in Koshebe village, Mafa local government while supervising the ongoing construction of ring road which will link Gwom, Gongolon and Zabarmari towns with the capital city, Maiduguri.
Zulum explained that with gradual returns of peace in the state, particularly, after the gruesome massacre against farmers in Koshebe which killed tens of people, the federal government through the North East Development Commission decided to construct roads to enhance agricultural activities and ensure resettlement of Displaced Persons in the area which is favourable for rice farming.
According to Zulum, the purpose of resettling the farmers back to Koshebe after the relative peace is to give them opportunity to cultivate their farmlands which will also give opportunity for other farmers who are coming to the area for farming from other Northern states of the country.
"The first thing we want to achieve is to partner with the Federal Government under the hope initiative of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to see how we will join hands with the federal ministry of agriculture and food security in providing seeds and other agricultural inputs.
"We will also clear this land and support the communities with agricultural inputs and other upgraded seedlings, I believe this will help in boosting agricultural activities and food production in the state and Nigeria at large.
"You can see the massive land, this potential has to be harness to enhance food production, I spoke with Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and he released fund under the ministry of agriculture to support farmers and Borno state government will compliment the effort of the federal government and ensure that people have backed to the farming activities, I believed this will reduce the negative effects of insurgency in these areas".
Zulum commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu and North East Development Commission for constructing the road saying "we remain eternal grateful for this initiative, because many farmers will get opportunity to engage in extensive farming, this is so because one of the major reasons that hinder agricultural activities is lack of access road".
He noted that the military has assured the state government that they will provide security to ensure successful resettlement of the remaining farmers back to Koshebe displaced by Boko Haram insurgency.
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