Director General, Borno State Livestock Management Agency, Bukar Usman, has reiterated the unwavering commitment of Governor Babagana Zulum to the growth and transformation of the livestock sector in the state.
Speaking when he led a delegation of livestock experts from Dar Al Halal Business Group to Mafa Ruga Resettlement, Dr.Usman emphasized that the governor’s passion for livestock development was the driving force behind the establishment of the dedicated Agency.
He highlighted that the state government has initiated three key livestock projects in Mafa, Gubio, and Askira. These initiatives are geared toward unlocking the livestock value chain, creating employment for unemployed youths and women, and strengthening rural economic development.
He further expressed the government’s interest in exploring areas of collaboration with Dar Al Halal especially in upgrading existing infrastructure such as the state’s abattoir, dairy plant, and fish market for mutual benefit through knowledge exchange and capacity building.
Chairman of BOLMA, Alhaji Mohammed Dili, noted that the visit was a significant step toward strengthening strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in the livestock sector.
“Dar Al Halal, along with the FAO and other partners, is committed to supporting Borno State through technical research, expert advisory services, and comprehensive feasibility studies across the livestock industry,” he said.
The FAO representative from Pretoria, South Africa, Dr. Babagana Ahmodu, lauded Governor Zulum’s initiatives in enhancing the production of meat, milk, hides, and skins, as well as his leadership in establishing three Ruga Resettlements. He emphasized the importance of hides and skins as foundational inputs for the leather industry, noting Borno’s growing potential in this space.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Dar Al Halal Business Group, Dr. Abdulmutallib Dikko, commended the Borno State Government for constructing a world-class Ruga settlement with modern facilities.
“Among all the states we have visited, none has the livestock potential and readiness that we’ve seen in Borno,” Dr. Abdulmutallib stated. “What we saw on the ground — in terms of cattle and infrastructure — is impressive and proves that the objectives of this partnership can be successfully achieved.”
Earlier in the visit, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Livestock and State Ruga Coordinator, Hon. Tijjani Goni Mohammed, during a technical session with the team, ward heads of Mafa and Ruga staff, presented charts, routes, and detailed information regarding the formation and structure of the Ruga Resettlements.
The team which comprises of Director General of the Livestock Development Management Agency, Dr. Bukar Ali Usman mni, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Livestock and State Ruga Coordinator, Alhaji Tijjani Mohammed, Executive Director Dar Al Halal, Dr Abdulmutallib Dikko, Representative of FAO Pretoria South Afica, Dr Babagana Ahmodu Permanent Secretary Ministry of Livestock Dr Shetima Ali have inspected various facilities within the Ruga resettlement.
During the visit, Dr. Usman and his team assessed the Ruga Primary Health Care Centre, drinking troughs, feed mill, silage bunker, veterinary clinic, and the Milk Processing and Collection Centre. Other locations inspected included irrigated pasture, a 40-hectare rain-fed farmland, milk parlour, and Ruga Lodge among others.
They were also at the central poultry farm along Gamboru Ngala road where they assessed the Poultry farm, incubator, hatcher machine, birdie room, feed mills and poultry production unit in which the stocking density of the facility housed up to 25,000 chicken for egg laying .
The Team later moved to Galtimari fish hatchery complex which has been out of use for some time and were impressed by the settings and the condition of the equipment, which only needs some replacement to kick start and were also at the Borno Diary plant and Animal feed milk and later also visited ADC Construction Cattle Farm along Baga road.
The last point of assessment at Newly constructed international fish market along Monguno road and Plastic and Tomatoes industry along Jimtilo respectively.
