The Borno State Government is set to revive the state-owned tomato factory, announced Governor Prof. Babagana Zulum during an unscheduled visit to the facility along the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway.
Governor Zulum stated that the state will not only refurbish the existing infrastructure but also procure modern equipment to enhance the factory’s operational capacity. As part of the preparations, the state has established 5 hectares of drip-irrigated tomato farms, with plans to expand to 100 hectares upon full-capacity operation.
“My main intention is to see how we shall resuscitate the moribund factories at the Borno industrial park, particularly the tomato paste factory. The challenge has been the lack of raw materials for the factory,” Zulum said. He further explained, “We are setting up a robust drip irrigation system using net houses to produce tomatoes. We have started with 5 hectares, and each hectare will produce about 60 tons. Expanding to 100 hectares, we will achieve around 6,000 tonnes.”
Earlier last week, Governor Zulum assessed progress at the NEITEL Shoe and Tannery Factory, which has been revitalized through a public-private partnership aimed at job creation and wealth generation. He noted that the factory now operates at approximately 70% capacity and is preparing to export four containers of high-quality hides and skins to Italy.
“The government has partnered with the private sector to run this factory. It now produces about 100,000 hides and skins monthly, creating jobs and expanding sources of wealth in the state,” Zulum said.
