B’Haram: We have sacred responsibility to our people, Zulum tells N’east govs

The high-level meeting brought together the six governors of the region; Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe, with a view to discuss strategies of tackling the resurgence of Boko Haram hostilities, and revitalising agricultural activities.

Zulum, who is the chairman of NorthEast Governor Forum, also noted that the poverty level in the region was so alarming that it warrants collective approach by the leaders to address the situation.

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“As Governors, we have a sacred responsibility to our people; we must provide them with the necessities of life, create opportunities for them to thrive, and ensure that they live in a peaceful and secure environment. But we cannot do all these alone.

“We need each other’s support, cooperation and understanding.  We must recognise that our successes are tied to the success of our region.  We must acknowledge that our collective progress depends on our ability to work together to share our resources and leverage our strengths.”

“Your Excellencies, the poverty level in our region is alarming, and it is imperative that we take bold steps to address this challenge. We must recognise that poverty is not just an economic issue but also a social and humanitarian crisis,” he said.

He emphasised the need for a unified approach to combating terrorism, banditry, and other security threats destabilising the region.

“Your Excellencies, our Forum’s determined efforts in tackling collectively all issues affecting our region have further made us a force to be reckoned with in the nation. I urged all well-meaning citizens of our region to support and work with us in the interest of the development of our people,” he stated.

He also observed that short and medium term measures must be adopted by the governors to tackle the challenges.

“We must also focus on rebuilding and revitalising our agricultural sector. This includes providing support to farmers, investing in irrigation systems, and promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices.”

“We must also focus on creating an enabling environment for establishing small and medium-scale industries in our region.  This includes investing in infrastructure, providing incentives for private sector investment and promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. But today, we come together not to lament our problems as identified, but rather, to proffer durable solutions.”

Also speaking, the host and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, re-echoed the northeast’s commitment to working together to address the challenges facing the region.

Experts and representatives from the Northeast Development Commission, National Commission for Almajiri and Out of School Children, and Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILSET) were present.

Secretaries to the state governments in the six States, traditional rulers, security heads, and heads of the relevant agencies from the region, among other dignitaries were in attendance.