The Governors from the North East region have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to find a lasting solution to the worsening security situation in the region and in the country in general.
Chairman of the North East Governors Forum and Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of a meeting between the President and the governors on Monday in Aso Rock.
Zulum said the governors asked the President to tackle the root causes of the Boko Haram insurgency in the region such as poverty, hunger and education. He said the forum also wants him to address the decaying infrastructure especially rock projects in the zone.
The Borno governor added that the forum also wants the federal government to look into the issues of oil exploration in the region, among others.
The forum also asked President Buhari to resettle the displaced persons in their original homes so that they can start their means of livelihood and go about their normal duties such as farming, trading, and others.
Zulum, however, said the North-East governors commended the efforts of the federal government in securing the region, adding that more work needs to be done.
He said the forum recommended that police should be empowered, to be provided with certain state-of-the-art equipment, armoured personnel carrier and so on with a view to bridging the manpower gap that we are having in the Nigerian military.
The North East Governors present at the meeting are Prof. Zulum, Ahmadu Fintri, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Inuwa Yahaya, Gombe, Darius Ishaku, Taraba and Mai Mala Buni, Yobe.
The meeting had in attendance Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd), and the Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.
Others are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, and the Director-General, Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Bichi were also in attendance.
Also present were the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ahmed Rufa’i, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi said the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi.
It can’t make any difference. Both chief commander and nearly all chief security officers are within you and you are still like this. Is anyone expect better? can you give what you don’t have? Keep waiting!
You recommend police to be well equiped to fight boko haram. Also plead with president and national assembly to remove police from contributory pension scheme which is their welfare and major challenge.