Zulum tasks monarchs on security, unity for North’s sustainable development
By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has tasked members of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC) with security and unity for the sustainable development of the North, comprising 19 states in the country.
Zulum gave the task on Tuesday during the NTRC 7th executive council meeting held at Government House, Maiduguri.
Declaring the meeting open, on behalf of the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Zulum said, “Security, peace-building, agriculture and youth empowerment are the critical pillars for sustainable development of the northern region.
The monarchs’ meeting, themed “Enhance Security As Panacea For Stability of the North”, aims to tackle the worsening insecurity situation in the three geopolitical zones comprising the North-East, North-West and North-Central.
Besides the tasking of monarchs on security, he also urged stakeholders to focus on youth empowerment in the north.
He noted that despite youths’ high population in contributing their quotas in development, they are, however, denied the opportunities in the various sectors of the economy. Warning that the denial of opportunities for the youths is dangerous, stating, “We must invest heavily in skills acquisition, vocational education, digital innovation and entrepreneurship.”
He added that empowered youths are not only less vulnerable to crimes and radicalisation but also become agents of development of their communities.
Zulum also stressed that agriculture had remained the economic backbone for the Northern region.
The governor noted that despite the vast arable land in the North, insecurity has displaced tens of thousands of farmers and has affected their productivity in the various crops they had been producing before the 2009 Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State.
“We must secure our fallowed farmlands and engage in modern agricultural practices in restoring people’s livelihoods to reduce dependence on government handouts, either in camps or communities.
He urged the monarchs to adopt mechanised farming and irrigation during the dry season that lasts for about eight months in farming activities.
He, therefore, assured the state government’s commitment to peace, justice and shared socioeconomic progress in three geopolitical regions.
The Chairman of NTRC and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad, said that the Maiduguri meeting was to strengthen unity among the 19 states in the North.
He also said that the monarchs are to deliberate on the security situation in the North by supporting the leadership in addressing the numerous socioeconomic problems across the North.
The National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, and the Inspector General of Police were also represented at the NTRC council meeting.
Other dignitaries at the monarch’s meeting include Chairman of the Northern Governor’s Forum (NGF) and governor of Gombe State, Mohammed Yahaya, who was represented by his deputy, Manassah Daniel Jatau; Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan; and the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi.
