The  Borno State Government has solicited the assistance of Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) for the revival of the free trade zone in the state.

Governor Kassim Shettima of Borno made the appeal rcently when he visited NEPZA headquarters in Abuja.

He said the Banki Free Trade Zone in the state started during the tenure of the late Mala Kachala had been abandoned since Kachala left office more than eight years ago.

He urged the authority to collaborate with the state in reviving the project.

He said government was all about continuity and that during his tenure as governor, he would continue from where others stopped.

Shettima also said another free trade zone would be set up in Gamborugala area of the state, a border town near Cameroon and Chad.

He said with the establishment and revival of the trade zones, there would be employment for youths in the state.

He said his government would make sure that the two trade zones become operational to boost the economy of the state.

Shettima said the state had the capacity and manpower that the zones would require to be functional and provide more than 100,000 jobs for the people.

In his response, the Managing Director of NEPZA, Mr. Sina Agboluaje, promised to work with the state to ensure that the trade zones were completed and put to use.

Agboluaje said that the free zones would introduce a lot of changes in the state through increased commercial activities.

He commended the governor for his efforts and called on other states in the North to do the same to boost the standard of living of the people.