Borno State

Borno State
Governor: Ali Modu Sheriff (ANPP)

Contact: Office of the Executive Governor,
Borno State Government House
P.M.B 1420, Maiduguri
Borno State-Nigeria
Tel: 234 76 235022 OR 234 76 232988
E-mail: borno_nigeria@yahoo.com, hassan_abdullahi@hotmail.com, busuguma@yahoo.com
Website: www.bornonigeria.com


Date Created: February 1976.

Capital: Maiduguri

Major Towns: Dikwa, Gwoza, Konduga, Bama, Monguno, Maiduguri, Shani, Damboa.

Borno state is located in the North-east of Nigeria within latitude 11°N and longitude 13°E. It is bounded in the north by the Republic of Niger and Chad to the north-east and Cameroon to the east. Within the country its neighbours are Adamawa to the south, Yobe to the west and Gombe to the southwest. Apart from English, other languages spoken in the state are Kanuri, Shuwa, Guduf, Marghi,. Babur, Fulani, Waha and Hausa.

There are 27 Local Government Areas in the State. These are Shani, Kwanga-Kusar, Hawul, Biu, Askira/Uba, Dumboa, Gwoza, Konduga, Bama, Kaga, Magumeri, Gubio, Mobbar, Kukawa, Nganzai, Monguno, Marte, Ngala, Dikwa, Mafa, Maiduguri, Jere, Abadan, Chibok, Guzamala, Kale/ Balge and Bayo.

The State has good transport system that links it by air, road and rail-to other states of the federation. The state capital has an Airport.

There are two major vegetation zones in the state. The Sahel type in the North which is where most of the wheat in the state is produced and the Sudan Savannah type in the south which consists of shrubby vegetation interspersed with tall trees woodland.

Agriculture and livestock farming which are the main stay of the state's economy have vast developmental potentials. The State is rich in millet, rice, cassava, date palms, fruits vegetables, sorghum, wheat, sweet potatoes, cowpeas, sugar cane, groundnut, cotton, gum arabic and many others.

There are also leather tanning, ornamental leather works, shoe making, glue and gelatin, horns, hooves and bones for export. The state is also blessed with abundant fishery resources. In the fishery sector there are dried fish, fishmeal for feed mills and fresh tend frozen meat. It is in recognition of these potentials that the Federal Government in 1973 set up the Chad Basin and Rural Development Authority. Also, in 1981 the State Government set up the Borno Investment Company PLC.

To ensure growth in the industrial sphere, the State Government made tremendous effort to reactivate the NEITAL Shoe Factory Tannery Sections, the Borno Clay Products PLC, the Borno Express and the State Tourism Board. Other industries include the Maiduguri Oil Mill, which produces groundnut by-products and the Vegetable and Fruit Processing PLC (VEGFRU).

To further promote and enhance industrialization of the state, Premier Commercial Bank was set up by the government as a source of investment finance, and financing of commerce in general.

Educationally, Borno State Government gives priority to the intellectual growth of its indigenes right from the grassroots. Institutions in the State are the University of Maiduguri, Ramat Polytechnic, Borno College of Education, Borno College of Science and Technology, Borno College of Legal and Islamic Studies (BOCOLIS) and College of Agriculture. Borno State also boasts of Advanced Teachers' Colleges, Secondary Schools, Teachers' Colleges, Vocational Training Centres, Primary Schools and the Federal Staff Training Centre, Maiduguri.

In the health sector, the system is pyramidal with the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the Maiduguri Specialist Hospital Complex at the top. This comprises, the Eye Clinic, Dental clinic, Psychiatric Clinic, Infections Diseases Hospital, the Nursing Home and the Maiduguri Medical Centre.Their are Health Centres, dispensaries, private clinics, pharmaceutical chemists and a number of patent medicine stores scattered all over the state.

Borno State is also endowed with mineral resources. These are Diatomite, Potassium/Sodium, Clay, Limestone and Uranium. Also crude oil is explored in the Chad Basin Area.

Tourism in Borno is based primarily on its natural resources, rich traditions and cultural heritage. Tourist attractions include the Kyarimi Park in Maiduguri for animal and bird lovers and where the only captured hippopotamus in West Africa is harboured, the Shehu's Palace, Rabeh's Fort at Dikwa, Yamtarawala tomb at Biu. Others are Lake Chad, Sambissa Game Reserve and Jaffi falls among others.

Borno State has many hotels. The major ones include the Lake Chad Hotel, Maiduguri Airport Hotel and Borno Holiday Inn.