Politics

North-East Govs’ Forum adopts nine resolutions for region

The North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF), comprising the governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states, has unanimously adopted nine resolutions to be implemented for the region.

This was contained in a communique signed by the chairman of the forum who is also the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, after its 7th meeting held in Gombe, Gombe State.

The forum further hailed the growing strength of the cooperation, collaboration, and cordial relationship between the governors of the 6 states of the region.

It also reiterated its commitment to foster common ground and pursue a collective course for the benefit of the region.

The NEGF said: “The Forum lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies for the effort in combating the Boko haram insurgency. It noted the improvement in the security situation in the region which had largely been achieved through kinetic and non-kinetic measures.

“The Forum, noted the relative peace being experienced in the subregion, especially the reduced incidences of Farmer-herder clashes, as encouraging.

“However, there is increasing vulnerability of the region to insecurity due to the mass movement of the bandits who are gradually being pushed out of the Northwest by the security forces.

“On the influx of the bandits, there is an urgent need to launch a coordinated security road map in conjunction with the security agencies and the Federal Government.

“The Forum noted the link between mining activities and insecurity especially the abuse of the mining leases. It, therefore, resolved to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Land Use Act.

“The Forum again expressed concern on the parlous state of power supply in the north-east region, which at present receives less than 5% of national allocation of grid energy while accounting for 14% of the population and 30% of landmass. While noting the direct correlation between energy security and high level of poverty and our GDP status, it called on the Federal Government to introduce innovative strategies by investing in the production of comparatively cheaper hydropower and renewable energy.

“Related to this, the Federal Government is called upon to accelerate the execution of the Mambila hydroelectricity project.

“The Forum noted the need to harness the vast untapped resources of the subregion by fostering integration in commerce as well as holding trade fairs with a view to attracting foreign investments. The forum, therefore, urged the North-East Council of Chambers of Commerce to revive the Northeast Joint Trade Fair and commodity markets to stimulate economic activities.

“The Forum thanked the Federal Government for establishing the University of Health Sciences, in Azare to address the huge manpower deficit in the health sector and pledged to support the University to deliver on its mandate.

“The Forum expressed grave concern about the devastating effect of flooding which is destroying homes and livelihood including road infrastructures. The Forum, therefore, calls on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency direct its relevant agencies to immediately deploy all necessary interventions to ameliorate the situation in the affected areas,” the communique read.

The Star