…….As Gov Bala participates in 8th NEGF meeting in Maiduguri
By Amina Abdullah Girbo
The North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) on Saturday agreed to resuscitate the northeast trade fair to be held in Bauchi state in January, 2024 in an effort to promote subregional commerce among member states.
This was contained in a 10 points communique issued at the end of the 8th meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) held at Government House, Maiduguri, Borno State.
The communique read by Governor Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, the Forum expressed delight at the growing strength of the cooperation, collaboration and cordial relationship between the Governors of the 6 States of the region.
The Forum reiterated its commitment to foster a common ground and pursue collective course for the benefit of the region and appreciated the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima for gracing the opening ceremony of the 8th meeting of the NEGF and the Government and People of Borno State for hosting the event.
While acknowledging the relative success recorded against insurgency, with a new dimension of growing banditry is added to worsen the security situation in the subregion, it observed that as a result of the concerted efforts of the military to flush bandits from the
other parts of the country, the bandits are now moving towards the Northeast.
The Forum said that the case is becoming worse in Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba states, the places hitherto without banditry and stressed the need for the Federal Government to urgently intervene to address this issue.
It pointed out that, it is aware that some traditional rulers and other local authorities are conniving with the bandits, giving them shelter and cover to commit crimes within the subregion and announced its unanimous resolve to decisively deal with any traditional ruler or community leader that is found to be harbouring or conniving with the bandits.
The NEGF said the proliferation of mining in the region is becoming a
problem which includes both legal and illegal mining and noted the link between mining activities and insecurity especially the abuse of the mining leases and therefore urged respective Governments to enforce compliance with the provisions of local consent as contained in Nigeria’s Mining Policy.
The Forum noted with great concern that Climate Change and environmental degradation is a major issue affecting the subregion as the issue of flooding that had affected the states leading to destruction of properties and loss of livelihoods is increasing the sufferings of the people.
According to the forum, this has been compounded by the silting of our rivers as well as deforestation brought about by the massive charcoal business and emphasized the need for the Federal Government’s intervention in the area of desilting the rivers with an effective control on deforestation with
stern regulation to local authorities against compromise to granting approvals for such business.
The Forum has resolved to key into the Global Initiative of Carbon Credi, the Great Green wall and other initiatives that will mitigate the devasting impact of climate change in the subregion.
On the neglect of road and railway infrastructure especially along the economic corridors that links the Northeast subregion to the rest of the country, the NEGF noted with dismay the conditions of the roads and called on the Federal Government to look into the situation and consider the reconstruction of these basic infrastructure along Enugu-Maiduguri Economic Corridor for regional trade and very important for integration, peace building and improving national unity.
It agreed that all the states within the subregion are to domesticate the Education Law 2022, as recommended by
the Northeast Education Council earlier constituted by the Forum.
8. The Forum charges the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) to be more proactive with the issues of development in the subregion with prioritizing its intervention in short, medium and long term to take care of the sustainable development needs of the people within the subregion.
The North-East Governors’ Forum therefore resolved to hold the 9th Meeting in Yola, Adamawa State between Friday 3rd – Saturday 4th -November, 2023.
Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi state attended the 8th meeting of the forum in Maiduguri in company of the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Ibrahim Kashim, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Aminu Hammayo, Special Advisers on Civil Service and that of Multilateral Services, Mr Abdon Dalla Gin, Senator Mohammed Bello among others.
