North-East Governors’ forum says security situation in the region improving
North East Governors’ forum has said that the security challenges bedevilling the region is decreasing to an appreciable level.
The forum stated this at the end of it sixth meeting held in Damaturu, Yobe State, the meeting had in attendance Governors of Borno, Gombe and Yobe, while the Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, and Taraba States were represented by their Deputies at the meeting.
Disclosing this in a six-paragraph resolution after the meeting, Chairman of the forum and Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum said this was based on the mass surrender by the the Boko Haram fighters.
The forum also commended the Federal Government for far reaching initiatives, aimed at developing the area and ensuring peace, adding that there should be concerted effort at sustaining the current situation.
Zulum partly said, “The Forum, noted the significant improvement in the security situation in the sub-region as evidenced by the mass surrender of Boko Haram fighters and commended the Federal Government for its various initiatives towards stabilising the sub region. However, the Forum urged for the establishment of a sustainable programme for the handling of the repentant terrorists. The Forum noted that kidnapping and farmer-herder clashes amongst others are worrisome in the sub-region and resolved to undertake the necessary measures to curtail the menace.
The Forum also tasked the Federal Government on the take-off of the completed hydro-power plant to boost development and progress of the region, adding that some parts of Maiduguri had stayed without power while already completed stations lay fallow.
“The Forum deliberated on a presentation by the Hon. Minister of Power on planned and on-going Power Projects in the North East which highlighted the challenges of steady power supply to the sub-region and noted with dismay the near one year lack of electricity in Maiduguri and its environs. It urged the Federal Government to urgently find a lasting solution. The Forum further raised concerns over the non- commissioning of the Dadin Kowa and kashimbila hydro-power plants which is stalling development of the sub-region, and appealed to the Federal Government to increase its investments in the sub-region to guarantee peace and economic prosperity.
“The Forum deliberated extensively on the Mambilla Hydroelectric project. It called on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to make adequate budgetary provision in the 2022 appropriation bill for the implementation of the project.
“The Forum, while recognizing that the 2022 budget is in its final stages, calls on the National Assembly to look critically at the subregion with a view to ensuring that adequate budgetary provisions are made for all major capital projects in the Sub region,” Zulum added.
However, the next meeting would be held in Gombe March 2022.
