July 07, (THEWILL) – Taraba State’s Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku has commended the Military, police and other security organisations playing massive roles in confronting the increased insecurity in the country.
Ishaku expressed his appreciation while delivering a keynote address at the fifth meeting of the North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) held at the Taraba State Government House, Jalingo.
The Governor, who pledged to remain supportive of security agencies at all times, pointed out that insurgents’ sources of fund, recruitment and supplies must be cut off or else their threats would remain intractable in the country.
In his words, “I must acknowledge that the Military, police and other security organisations had played and have continued to play an important role in maintaining peace and security in troubled areas and so we will not fail to provide them with the required assistance and cooperation in the difficult undertaking.
“Permit me to salute the Nigerian Military’s sacrifices, heroism, and professionalism, not just in the fight against insurgency but also in defending the country’s sovereignty and unity.”
While lamenting the level of destruction caused by the alarming state of insecurity in the country, Ishaku noted that the country had lost a large section of its population as many people had lost love ones and valuable belongings, especially as a result of the persistent Boko Haram activities.
He noted that the displacement of people from their ancestral homes by the insurgents had resulted in a serious refugees’ crisis; and Taraba State has had to shoulder the burden of their plight, with thousands of people fleeing their villages and towns in search of safety in the state.
Ishaku also expressed displeasure over the farmers-herders conflict that had resulted in a high number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the state, pointing out that the situation had caused severe effects on agricultural output, crime and increase in unemployment rate.
He stated that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and its Taraba State counterpart as well as local and international NGOs had done a lot to alleviate the sufferings of the refugees but the problem remains tremendous and much more had to be done.
Making emphasis on the rich potentials God had deposited in the North-East Region, the Governor identified the Mambilla Hydro-Electric Power, oil, gas and solid minerals as God’s gifts to the good people of the region that need to be tapped urgently to increase the general wellbeing of the people.
The Governor, who stated that oil and gas had been discovered in the Bauchi-Gombe axis and in Taraba State, also urged the Federal Government to expand and expedite exploration in the Chad Basin and Benue trough as geological reports had posited that it is rich in oil and gas.
According to him, early exploitation of petroleum resources in the region would increase its revenue profile as a result of the 13 percent derivation principle enjoyed by oil-producing states.
Accordingly, the Governor urged the NEGF to push for the removal of the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List for the benefit of the Central and regional governments.
The fifth meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum, which is to last for two days in the state, has all the governors in attendance, except the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mala Buni, who is represented by his Deputy Governor.
