By Abdul Kareem

Hajja Aisha, an internally displaced person in Dusuman village of Jere local government, couldn’t contain her happiness as she received the keys to a room and a set of bedding. Her joy grew when she was also given three goats – a male and two she-goats – to help her start a small animal husbandry business.

This generous gesture was extended to her and a few others by the governor of Borno state, Babagana Zulum, on Thursday, Feb. 8, during the commissioning of a housing scheme project initiated by the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) in Maiduguri, Borno state, in northeast Nigeria.

The houses, built at Dusuman, along the Maiduguri-Mafa highway in Jere local government area, are part of the  NALDA policy mandate for land clearing, land preparation,  farmers empowerment, and development of rural areas.  Each farmer gets a double-room apartment in the housing scheme area located in different parts of Jere’s local government area. Near the housing is also a primary school complex to cater for the education needs of the farming community.

The executive secretary of NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne, said in an open speech at a small commissioning ceremony that Borno state became one of the first catchment areas of NALDA because of “the disposition of the state governor, Babagana Zulum.”

Governor Zulum cutting the tape at the commissioning of the NALDA Houses for rural farmers

He said NALDA will continue to partner with Borno state because the state has all the potential that is required to develop food production and achieve food security for the entire Nigeria. 

“With his unconditional land donation and method of total commitment, the governor of Borno state has been supervising this project with me even when I’m not in Borno state he will come to the site on his own.” 

He called on other state governments “to key into Governor Zulum’s developing agriculture, the spirit of empowerment and uplifting the less privileged.”

“We are here for Governor Zulum to commission this project and begin the empowerment process because it will not end today as NALDA will keep on partnering with the government of Governor Zulum, to keep on empowering the people in the state for them to regain their status as legitimate farmers who can make their ends meet through farming activities.”

Governor Zulum commended NALDA for bringing the projects to the state, even as he clarified that the project is replicated in six other local government areas of Borno state. 

He said the NALDA’s projects are geared towards creating employment and enhancing means of livelihood. 

Dusuman farmers, the beneficiaries of the housing scheme.

“As a result of the challenges of the Boko Haram crisis, about 3.5 million people have been displaced and the government at all levels was able to return more than two million to their respective localities by the grace of God,” the Governor said. 

“The Borno state government will partner with the ministry of humanitarian affairs, the ministries of agriculture and food security, and NALDA to ensure the return of the remaining 1.5 million displaced populace,” he said.

Governor Zulum emphasized that the NALDA project holds significant importance to his government and the people of Borno State due to its diverse components that impact various aspects of human lives.

Goats for the beneficiaries of the rural housing scheme for farmers

“As you can see, the component of this project is not only the rural housing scheme; we have a poultry production unit, we have drip irrigation sites, and most importantly we have pasture development sites that will ensure ranching,” he said.

The governor assured NALDA that it has a reliable partner in the state, and the Borno state governor will provide full support, including offering arable lands for all of its projects in the state.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Engineer Ba’awu Musami, praised NALDA for citing the projects in the Jere local government area. He also requested the governor’s consideration for a drip irrigation project around the housing area to enhance job creation through agriculture and promote the adoption of cost-effective water management methods of farming, particularly in light of the unpredictable rainfall patterns caused by climate change in the state.

He also mentioned that the beneficiaries of the houses will receive bedding material and three goats each for rearing as part of the economic empowerment aspect of the program.

As the guests departed Dusuman, Hajja Aisha and her cohorts, such as Falmata Tijjani Ali, expressed nothing but prayers and good wishes for those who had helped them attain their new status as owners of suitable housing and a lifeline for the future.

“This means so much to us and our family, as we never thought we would have such a decent roof over our heads since we were displaced from our communities. May God bless and protect Governor Zulum’s government and the NALDA people who made this possible,” says Falmata.