The long-anticipated revival of international water border trade between Borno State and the Republic of Chad is progressing steadily, following a high-level visit by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to the Baga Fish Dam in Kukawa Local Government Area.
During the visit, Governor Zulum inspected ongoing dredging and expansion works on the region’s key water canal—a major infrastructure initiative led by the Borno State Government to reopen critical transborder trade routes along the Lake Chad axis.
Speaking to journalists, Governor Zulum revealed that the resumption of the Borno-Chad trade corridor is projected to create over one million jobs and significantly boost economic cooperation between Nigeria and Chad.
He emphasized the importance of the initiative for fostering prosperity in border communities and driving broader socioeconomic development in the region.
Governor Zulum also praised the efforts of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Defence Staff, and other security agencies for their roles in stabilizing the region. Their efforts, he said, have made it possible for commercial and agricultural activities to safely resume.
The reopening of the Lake Chad trade route is widely regarded as a vital step toward revitalizing the regional economy and strengthening cross-border collaboration in the Lake Chad basin.