By Abdullahi Alhassan
Borno, Nigeria, May 7, 2026(Series News Online)-Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, met with the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, in Lagos on Tuesday to explore ways of integrating Borno’s local producers into the national and regional export value chain.
Speaking after the meeting, Governor Zulum said the engagement was part of his administration’s broader economic diversification agenda since 2019. “We are creating a conducive environment for business and investment in Borno State, and linking our local creators to export opportunities is central to that vision,” he stated.
The governor was received by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, alongside the Executive Director, Engineering, Engr. Ibrahim Abba Umar.
Governor Zulum noted that the visit followed a similar high-level engagement with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, last year. “At that meeting, we emphasized the need to fast-track the Maiduguri Dry Inland Port project, which is designed to bring port services closer to the Northeast,” he said.
He explained that once operational, the dry port would create thousands of jobs and generate significant internal revenue. “It will also boost Borno’s economic activity by reducing logistics costs and decongesting the coastal ports,” the governor added.
In a related development, the Zulum administration is advancing plans to fully establish the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, zone in Banki, a border town adjacent to the Republic of Cameroon. “The process is already at an advanced stage,” he disclosed.
Governor Zulum said the dual strategy of developing the Maiduguri Dry Inland Port and the AfCFTA Free Trade Zone in Banki reflects a deliberate policy direction. “By advancing both projects, we are laying a coherent foundation to industrialize Borno, create jobs, generate revenue, and permanently reduce our over-reliance on monthly federal allocations,” he concluded.
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