December 15, (THEWILL) -The Northeast Governors Forum on Tuesday night, called on the Federal Government to improve on the security within the region.
Although, the Forum commended the Buhari-led administration efforts towards improving the security architecture of the sub-region occasioned by “the mass surrender of Boko Haram fighters”, it however urged the Federal government to do more in areas of security and adequate power supply.
In a five-point communique issued at the end of the Forum’s 6th meeting held in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, the Governors also urged the Federal government “for the establishment of a sustainable programme for the handling of the repentant terrorists.”
While reading the Communique at the banquet hall of the Government House, Damaturu with his colleagues from Borno, Yobe and deputy governors of Adamawa, Bauchi and Taraba states who represented their bosses at earlier closed-door deliberation, the Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya said the Forum further addressed power supply challenges bedevilling the sub-region, noting “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 communique signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Prof Babagana Zulum reads: “The North East Governors’ Forum, held its 6th meeting in Damaturu, Yobe State and discussed, among other things, the challenges facing the sub-region. In attendance were the Executive Governors of Borno, Gombe and Yobe, while the Executive Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, and Taraba States were represented by their Deputies. At the end, The Forum issued a Communique as follows:
“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 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 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 the 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 recognising 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.”
“The Forum resolved to have its next meeting from 9th to 11th March 2022 at Gombe, Gombe State”
