Edward Kallon, United Nations Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator on Tuesday, said development deficit is the root cause of insecurity in the country.
Kallon who had toured Health facilities, and Internally Displaced Persons earlier, stated this in Gombe government house executive chamber, when he led a United Nations delegation on a courtesy call to the state governor Inuwa Yahaya.
He noted that weak institution is a problem of development in Nigeria adding that pervasive corruption thrives in the country.
According to Kallon, “Gombe has been carrying the burden since the onset of Boko Haram insurgency. My presence here is to reassure you that Gombe is not alone, your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed United Nations will stand with Gombe in helping those in Host communities that have accepted IDP’s from across North East in sharing their meagre resources without resulting in putting them in camps.
“The root causes of varying crisis in the the country at large are essentially development deficit which includes but not limited to Weak Institutions and governance at multiple levels federal, state and local government, impact of climate change and increased competition over land and water resources as well as pervasive corruption.
“Slow economic growth and lack of economic diversification and inclusivity which is coupled with a rapid population growth, pockets of instability and increasing fragmentation based on ethnicity and religion in some parts of the country.”
On his part, Governor Inuwa Yahaya said Nigeria has no reason to be in it current situation adding that previous administrations were involved in cosmetic solution instead of tackling the issues head on.
He said, “In previous past efforts were made on cosmetics than the real issues that touched people, and for that we missed the way. I have the feeling that Nigeria has no reason whatsoever to be in this situation but not for the missing gaps which human error caused and it is self inflicted, Nigeria has no reason to be in this situation. God has endowed us with human resources.
“The number is supposed to be an advantage and not a disadvantage to us. The abundant of mineral resources if properly tapped will not leave us in the situation we are in, along the line our ability to realize this and our inability to embrace and change them to our benefit and advantage is what we need.”
