The North-East Governors’ Forum on Saturday decried the nexus between bad road and security challenges bedevilling the region.
In a statement signed at the end of its ninth meeting in Adamawa State. The statement signed by Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Zulum, noted that although security situation is improving positively in the region, there was need for more collaboration among member states in the design of the security architecture for the region.
Our correspondent reports that the meeting had in attendance Governors’ of Adamawa Ahmadu Fintiri, Bauchi; Bala Mohammed, Taraba; Kefas Agbu, Yobe; Mai Buni and Gombe; Muhammadu Yahaya.
The statement partly read, “It thus, resolved to work more with the security agencies to have a common security roadmap for the North East.
“Forum notes the need for a robust platform for regional economic development. It thus, resolved to work as an entity in strengthening the human capacity and socio-economic development of its people.
“Forum is continuously disturbed about the poor infrastructural base of the region. More concerned that the Federal roads within and between the states in the region have been neglected. It thus, call on the Federal Ministry of Works to follow through with road contracts awarded in the region. Poor road network is fuelling insecurity and stalling development and making life more difficult for our people in the region.”
NEGF further urged the North-East Development Commission to collaborate with ministry of works in revamping roads in the region.
“Forum notes that the contractual encumbrances on some of the bad federal roads within and between the States are major setbacks to the infrastructural development of the region. It calls on the NEDC to work with State Governments and the Federal Ministry of Works to remove the encumbrances and find more practical ways to intervene on these roads,” the statement added.
