Governor Zulum seeks military support to reopen Baga-Chad waterway
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has intensified efforts to reopen the waterway linking Baga in northern Borno State to the Republic of Chad as part of measures to revive trade, commerce and cross-border cooperation between the two countries.
The governor made this known on Saturday during a visit to Baga, where he held a high-level security meeting with military commanders in Baga and Kukawa to discuss modalities for clearing the water routes that have remained inaccessible due to insurgent activities.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Zulum said discussions focused on the security and logistical requirements needed to facilitate the reopening of the strategic route.
“Our visit to Baga was to interface with the Nigerian military to discuss the modalities for clearing waterways from Baga to the Republic of Chad,” the governor said.
He expressed optimism that the clearance exercise would commence soon, adding that the governments of Nigeria and Chad were already working together to determine how goods and commodities would move between the two neighbouring countries once the route is reopened.
Following the security meeting, Zulum inspected ongoing projects in Kukawa, including a General Hospital, a Mega Primary School and the High Islamic College, which are aimed at improving healthcare delivery, education and social development in the area.
The governor noted that the High Islamic College was designed to provide educational opportunities for out-of-school children and Almajiri pupils through a curriculum that combines Islamic and Western education, enabling graduates to pursue higher education in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
As part of efforts to support economic recovery in communities affected by insurgency, Zulum also announced plans to distribute farming tools, agricultural implements and improved seedlings to farmers and returnee fishing communities, saying the initiative would complement the reopening of the waterway and help restore livelihoods in the region.
