From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
Borno State and the Republic of Chad have commenced bilateral talks on investment in agriculture, energy and education.
The meeting, which opened on Tuesday in Maiduguri, brought together senior government officials from N’Djamena and Borno.
Coordinator of the parley and Special Adviser to Governor Babagana Zulum on Regional Integration and Culture, Dr Hassan Boguma, said the Chadian delegation included representatives of the Chadian President, top military officers, economic experts and senior government officials.
“The most important aspect of their visit is to discuss investment and partnership with Borno State. They have indicated willingness and capacity to invest, especially in agriculture and livestock,” Boguma told journalists at the sidelines of the meeting.
He said the collaboration seeks to deepen cooperation and regional reintegration, describing it as “good and timely.”
Members of the Borno delegation included the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Director-General of the Borno Investment Company and the Chairman of the Borno Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BOCIMA).
Speaking at the meeting, Borno Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Bawu Musami, said the state was ready to translate the talks into concrete action.
“The challenge we are facing now is harvesting, but we are going to put everything into a working document,” he said.
Spokesman of the Chadian delegation and Special Adviser to the Chadian President, Gen Youssouf Ahmet Tyera, thanked the Borno State Government for the warm reception.
“We are very glad. On behalf of the entire Chadian delegation, the welcome has been 100 per cent satisfying. We leave with unforgettable joy,” Tyera said.
He noted that Chad and Borno State share the same destiny. “We are brothers, we are neighbours and we share the same culture and history. You will also be invited to Chad to do the same thing,” he added.