Zulum Pushes Reopening Of Baga-Chad Waterway
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has initiated plans for the reopening of the waterway linking Baga town to the Republic of Chad as part of efforts to restore cross-border trade and strengthen economic cooperation between both countries.
The governor disclosed this during a visit to Baga, where he held a high-level security meeting with military commanders in Baga and Kukawa to discuss strategies for clearing the water route, which has remained inaccessible due to years of insurgency.
Speaking after the meeting, Zulum said the discussions focused on the modalities for reopening the strategic waterway and ensuring the safe movement of goods and people between Nigeria and Chad.
“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 noted that the clearance operation would commence soon, following ongoing collaboration between the governments of Nigeria and Chad aimed at revitalising trade activities along the route.
“We have discussed many issues, and, God willing, the clearance exercise will resume very soon. The governments of Chad and Nigeria are working together to determine how commodities will move between the two countries,” he added.
The Baga-Chad waterway is considered a critical trade corridor within the Lake Chad region, and its reopening is expected to boost commercial activities, improve livelihoods and enhance regional integration.
Following the security meeting, Governor Zulum inspected several ongoing development projects in Kukawa, including a General Hospital, a Mega Primary School and the High Islamic College.
The High Islamic College is designed to provide educational opportunities for out-of-school children and Almajiri pupils by integrating Islamic and Western education, thereby enabling graduates to pursue further studies in tertiary institutions.
The governor also announced plans to support farmers and fishing communities through an agricultural intervention programme that will include the distribution of farming tools, equipment and improved seedlings.
According to him, the initiative is intended to complement the reopening of the waterway by enhancing agricultural productivity and supporting the resettlement and economic recovery of returnee communities in the area.
The planned reopening of the Baga-Chad water route forms part of broader efforts by the Borno State Government to promote economic recovery, improve security and restore normalcy in communities affected by insurgency across the Lake Chad region.
