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The North East Governors Forum NEGF have attributed the endless insurgency within the region to use of drug abuse and narcissistic substance by the youths.
This form part of the communique issued in Jalingo Taraba State capital by NEGF during the Forum’s 5th meeting chaired the Baba Gana Zurum, the governor of Borno State.
“Forum also notes the negative impact of drug and narcotic substances in the region and the extent to which it fuels the insurgency and other forms of criminality in the region.
“It therefore calls for support in the area of stopping drug trafficking and enforcing narcotic control within the region and across the borders.
The NEGF in the communique lauded the tireless efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle insecurity within the region, noticed security improvements of the zone and commiserate with the President, Nigerians, the Military andfamilies of of the late Chief of Army Staff Major General Ibrahim Attahiru.
“Forum notes the general improvement of the Security situation in the North East and calls for continuous collaboration of all the security agencies in the country to sustain the gains.
“The Forum, condoles Mr. President, the Nigerian Military and the families of the late Chief of Army Staff Major General Ibrahim Attahiru and the other officers who lost their lives while on duty.
“We also congratulates the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya on his appointment.
The NEGF furthercall on the diplomatic community, partners and donor agencies supporting the region to activate the process of transiting from humanitarian to stabilization and durable solution within the region.
The communique stated that the efforts will ensure sustainability and give people the opportunity to help themselves out of poverty.
“This will address socio-economic dimension of insecurity in the region.
The Forum notes the technical support on potentials for growth and development of the region especially the Agribusiness Programme using innovative financing model of the Adamawa State Government by the Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP), and agreed that the research be extended to all the States of the region.
The Forum said while interacting with the Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission, appreciated their effort at ensuring compliance with the Federal Character principle.
Its however, expressed dismay over the shortfall in the number of applicants from the region in the recent recruitment into some Federal Agencies.
The forum in the communique therefore, resolved to follow up with all the concerned agencies to ensure that the region gets its fair share in the recruitments into the concerned agencies.
“After discussing extensively on the presentation on the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, NEGF noted with dismay, that the project as important as it is, to Nigeria and the North-East sub-region, is surrounded by a lot of contractual encumbrances which have stalled its take-off and realization.
“The Forum, therefore calls on the President to accord the project the desired seriousness by establishing a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to address the encumbrances and bring the project to reality.
Pointblanknews.com reports that the governors who were present at the meeting include Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, Governor Baba Umara Gana Zurum of Borno State, Governor Bala Muhamed of Bauchi State, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State and the deputy governor of Yobe State Alj. Idi Barde.