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| A cross section of the Governors of the Northeast yesterday in Damaturu |
…to float an airline for the region
From JOE Hemba
The Northeast Governors’ Forum has developed a ten year old development plan for the region which has suffered untold hardship as a result of the protracted Boko Haram crisis.
Gov. Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State who is also the chairman of the forum disclosed this in Damaturu at the meeting of the forum which is the sixth in the series since its beginning from March 2020.
“The forum has so far engaged the Arewa Research Development Project to undertake the development of a ten year comprehensive northeast development plan in the field of Agriculture, education , and incorporated an Airline to facilitate the easy interaction and movement of people and trade within the region,” Gov. Zulum said.
Gov. Zulum who addressed the gathering also disclosed that the governors as part of their plans for the region have incorporated an airline to facilitate easy interaction and trade in the region.
The Chairman noted that recent developments in the fight against terrorism has indicated the beginning of the end to the insurgency in the northeast region.
He however called on the military to intensify operations to free the zone of terror.
“I want to call on the Nigerian military to reach into the enclaves of the insurgents (who are not ready to lay down their arms), we must pursue them. For us to get rid of this crisis, we have to ensure that the remnants of the insurgents are pursued to their enclaves and neutralized” Zulum said.
Zulum said unless Boko Haram is brought to an end, there will be impediments to the overall growth and development of all the six States
He expressed the commitment of the forum to ending the insurgency while tasking the military and other security agencies to smoke out the terrorists in their enclaves.
He said; “In March 2020. Within these series of meetings, we have been able to identify most of the daunting challenges affecting us as a subregion within the context of the larger Nigeria society. We have come up with possible suggestions and how best to tackle such challenges and generally desired to improve the quality of lives of our people and the infrastructural deficit of the subregion.
“As you are aware, one of my pressing challenges we have been facing in the Northeast and Nigeria as a whole is the issue of food insecurity which is largely characterised by years of insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling and gender based violence among others.
“Equally to mention is the source of economic challenge affecting the subregion which has brought about massive unemployment, extreme poverty and under utilisation of the regions economic potentials.
Since the inauguration of the forum, we have collectively demonstrated our determination to succeed by articulating various ways and means of meeting the challenges in more pragmatic and effective manner.
Your excellencies, the untiring efforts and commitment of the forum have indeed impacted positively the subregion and create the desired awareness and recognition in the appropriate quarters,” Gov. Zulum explained.
Earlier in his welcome address , the host Governor Alhaji Mai Mala Buni said the periodic meeting has been proven to be vital in the quest for the full return of peace and prosperity of the Northeast sub-region.
Governor Buni expressed satisfaction with the initiative and commitment of the respective State Governments towards holding the meetings while underscoring the collective commitment to free the Northeast sub-region from the clutches of insecurity, poverty and other emerging challenges of development in the aftermath of insurgency which has devastated many communities in the individual states.
“As we are all aware, prior to the advent of Boko Haram insurgency, the Northeast has to contend with desertification and desert encroachment, low rainfall and drought among other natural factors such as flooding that continued to affect agricultural productivity being the major preoccupation of our people. Furthermore, like most parts of the Country, the region is faced with the challenge of dearth of functional public and private companies to absorb the ever-growing number of skilled and unskilled labour in the area. Obviously, it could not be an understatement to say that the task before us is enormous and requires a collective and holistic approach, if we are to bequeath a prosperous future to the next and upcoming generations.
“It is therefore, a matter of pride for all our States that having realized the magnitude of our common challenge, we have evolved a stronger fraternity upon which we would continue to build a solid bond of brotherhood for socio-economic advancement not only among our leaders but also among our people. Throughout the insurgency period, our people have demonstrated resilience in spite of losing their relatives, shelter and means of livelihood,” Gov. Buni said.
The host governor, Mai Mala Buni, Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, Gombe State Governor, Yahaya Inua were present, while the governors of Taraba, Adamawa and Bauchi were represented by their Deputies at the event.
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