NALDA Inaugurates 120 Housing Units To Enhance Food Production In Borno

By Bukola Adewumi

The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has unveiled 120 housing units and an empowerment center for farmers in Borno to increase food production.

In a statement provided to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, NALDA’s Executive Secretary, Paul Ikonne, highlighted that this initiative aims to bolster food security and encourage young Nigerians to venture into agriculture.

Ikonne, who inaugurated the facility alongside Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno in Maiduguri, emphasised that the project is part of efforts to reduce poverty, create wealth among smallholder farmers, and provide suitable accommodation for farmers.

Situated in Dustman community, Zawiya Village, Borno, the facility includes a clinic, a school for farmers’ children, a worship center, solar-powered boreholes, and access roads.

The segmented facility comprises fish ponds, poultry houses, goat pens in its production area, raffia, and a completed empowerment center for women and youths’ training.

Beneficiaries, drawn from Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the state, will also receive support in terms of inputs and training from NALDA.

Ikonne stressed that each state could benefit from the scheme, urging state governments to utilise it for job creation.

“Currently, we have partnerships with some individual farmers that have provided their farmlands and space for us to activate the empowerment centres.

“Like in Osun, we have a farmer whose farm is in good shape and up and running. All NALDA needs to do is to upgrade it to the level of being an empowerment centre.

“We also have a farm in Nasarawa State; a private farmer also made available his farmland which is 80 to 90 per cent ready for commissioning.’’

Ikonne disclosed plans to recruit 250,000 young Nigerians across the country, empowering them in various fields during the first phase, with a commitment to continuous phases.

Governor Zulum commended Ikonne for choosing Borno for such projects, emphasising their contribution to the state’s economic development.

“Let me use this opportunity to commend the hardworking executive secretary of NALDA for all his initiatives that are geared towards creating employment and means of livelihood for the people,” Zulum said.

He expressed readiness to provide lands for investors interested in agriculture, highlighting the initiative’s potential to assist returning IDPs affected by bandits and terrorists. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo