From Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
Yobe State Governor and host of the 11th North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) meeting, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has called on the Governors of Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, and Bauchi States to strengthen collaboration among themselves, the Federal Government, and security agencies to strategically address the resurgence of Boko Haram activities in the region.
According to a statement by Mamman Mohammed, Director-General of Press and Media Affairs to the Governor, Buni made the appeal during the 11th NEGF meeting held in Damaturu.
“We must act swiftly to consolidate the gains we have made in peace, security, and socio-economic development over the past few years,” Buni said.
“My dear compatriots, we must urgently share our resolutions with security chiefs and relevant federal agencies to deepen our working synergy and respond swiftly to this unfortunate resurgence,” he added.
Governor Buni emphasized that the Forum has, over the years, built strong partnerships and advanced regional cooperation among member states, providing a platform to pursue common interests collectively.
“As we begin this important meeting, let us take this opportunity to review the outcomes of our previous meetings, assess how far we’ve come in implementing those resolutions, analyze the challenges, and explore practical alternatives to achieve our set objectives,” he said.
He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership during what he described as a challenging time for the nation.
“I take this opportunity to reaffirm our support for the Federal Government’s policies and programmes aimed at building a strong, united, peaceful, and economically prosperous Nigeria,” Buni stated.
The governor also commended the bravery and sacrifice of security personnel, including officers of the armed forces, Civilian JTF, vigilante groups, and local hunters, “some of whom paid the supreme price in the defense of our fatherland so we can enjoy peace.”
He expressed optimism that the Forum would explore further strategies to unlock the region’s economic potential, noting the unsustainable dependence on federal allocations.
“The increasing difficulty in meeting our needs through federal allocation alone underscores the need to harness our regional resources. We must create employment opportunities for our youth to prevent them from becoming vulnerable to recruitment by terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements,” Buni warned.
“As leaders, we have a moral obligation to make agriculture attractive, accessible, and profitable. By providing machinery, equipment, and inputs, we can utilize our vast arable land and large population to achieve food sufficiency, security, and economic growth,” he concluded.
Also speaking at the meeting, Borno State Governor and Chairman of the Forum, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, expressed concern over the renewed security challenges in some parts of the region, describing the development as worrisome.
He pledged continued support for security agencies in their efforts to contain the emerging threats and urged the people of the region to embrace agriculture.
Zulum also called on residents to heed the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) warnings in planning their farming activities to mitigate the impact of flooding.