Borno State is positioning itself as one of Nigeria’s strongest agricultural frontiers, with vast potential to fuel industrial growth and attract large-scale investment.
Deputy Governor Hon. Umar Usman Kadafur made this known on Monday while representing Governor Babagana Umara Zulum at the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialization Summit (MAP-2025) held at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
Kadafur told participants that Borno’s agricultural sector stands out as a key driver of the state’s development vision, supported by a 25-year development framework and a 10-year strategic transformation plan.
“Borno has more than 1.6 million hectares of arable land and abundant irrigation potential from Lake Chad, River Yedseram, Alau Dam, and numerous seasonal streams,” he said.
According to him:
“Our climate supports both rain-fed and dry-season farming, creating year-round opportunities for food production, agribusiness, and agro-industrial investment.”
Kadafur also highlighted the state’s rich solid mineral base, saying, “We are blessed with more than 30 commercially viable deposits, including limestone, gypsum, kaolin, potash, trona, quartz, iron ore, tantalite, uranium, and silica sand.”
He stressed that beyond resources, “Borno’s greatest asset is the resilience of its people, the commitment of its government, and the trust of its partners.”
“We have adopted public-private partnerships, introduced investor-friendly policies, strengthened institutional capacity, and built a transparent, safe, and enabling environment for businesses to thrive,” he added.
Also speaking at the summit, the Governors of Nasarawa and Zamfara noted that “Nigeria could become one of the world’s leading industrial nations if it fully harnesses its agricultural and mineral resources.”
