Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum led a delegation of Northeast governors to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, for the 11th governors’ forum meeting focusing on regional security, boosting agricultural development, and addressing other emerging challenges.
The high-level meeting, which is currently ongoing after the opening session, at the Government House, Damaturu. It brings together governors from the six Northeastern states, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe, to discuss collaborative strategies to tackling the resurgence of Boko Haram hostilities, and revitalising agricultural activities amid other ongoing challenges.
In his opening remarks, Babagana Umara Zulum, chairman of the forum and Governor of Borno State, 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.
“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,” Zulum said.
He added, “To tackle these challenges, we must adopt short—and medium-term measures and focus on rebuilding and revitalising our agricultural sector. This includes providing support to farmers, investing in irrigation systems, and promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices.”
Zulum, However, suggests that governors in the northeast should focus on agriculture to provide livelihood and lift people out of poverty. “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,” he added.
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.
He said, “Your Excellencies, destiny has placed on you the leadership of your respective states to take decisions and provide solutions to challenges confronting your people.”
“Today we are here on this occasion for us to deliberate, reflect, and make far-reaching decisions for, and on behalf of our people, to promote peace, security, and prosperity of the North Eastern states,” he stated.
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 to address the governors during the ongoing closed-door session, following which a communique will be released.
The ceremony, which was held Thursday (today) in Damaturu, was attended by secretaries to the state governments in the six States in the region, traditional rulers, security heads, and heads of the relevant agencies from the region, among many dignitaries.
