Joint counter-terrorism operations improve security, farmers/herders’ relationship in Northeast
By Njadvara MUSA, Maiduguri
The Chairman of the Northeast Governors’ Forum (NEGF), Babagana Zulum of Borno state; has declared that the counter-terrorism and insurgency operations have reduced insecurity and farmers/herders clashes in the region.
Zulum made the declarations in a communique of the six Governors’ meeting held on Friday in Gombe, Gombe state.
The improved security situations were realized with both kinetic and non-kinetic operational measures of both the military and other security agencies.
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Lauding President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies, he said: “We commended the efforts in combating the Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed many lives and property in over a decade.”
He noted that the counter-terrorism operations of the Armed Force, are encouraging to the six Governors of Taraba, Gombe, Borno, Bauchi, Adamawa and Yobe states.
The forum’s chairman, however, said: “There is increasing vulnerability of the region to insecurity due to the mass movement of the bandits,” disclosing that they are gradually being pushed out of the Northwest by the security forces.
According to him, 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, particularly the abuse of the mining leases.
The Governors, therefore, resolved to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Land Use Act.
They also expressed concern on the parlous state of power supply in the north-east region, lamenting that the region receives less than 5% of national grid energy allocations.
The forum argued that the Northeast accounts for 14% of the population, while it comprises 30 percent of the nation’s landmass.
“There is direct correlation among energy security, poverty and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country,” said the communique.
According to him, the Federal Government should accelerate the completion of the Mambilla hydro-electric power project, Gembu.
He added that the Federal Government is to introduce innovative strategies by investing in cheaper hydropower and renewable energy with comparative advantages.
Related to this, the Federal Government is called upon to accelerate the execution of the Mambila hydroelectricity project.
He noted that efficient power supply could attract foreign investors into the various sectors of the economy to stimulate socio-economic activities in the six states.
Besides the electricity projects, he said that the North-east Council of Chambers of Commerce (NECCC), is to revive the Northeast Joint Trade Fair and commodity markets to stimulate economic activities.
The forum also expressed grave concern about the devastating effect of flooding which e destroyed many houses, infrastructural facilities and people’s livelihoods.
It, therefore, urged the federal government to as a matter of urgency to restore and replace the destroyed property.
The 8th meeting of the Governors’ forum is slated for November 25, 2022, in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
