The Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has lamented the devastating effects that the over twelve years of insurgency have caused the inhabitants and states of the Northeast sub-region especially in the areas of agriculture which is their major preoccupation.
Speaking at the sixth quarterly meeting of the Northeast Governors Forum held on Tuesday at the multipurpose hall of the government house in Damaturu, Buni said the North-East sub-region has had to contend with desertification and other environmental challenges made worst by the Boko Haram insurgency that has lasted for over a decade.
“As we are all aware, prior to the advent of Boko Haram insurgency, the North-East has had to contend with desertification and desert encroachment, low rainfall and drought among other natural factors such as flooding that continued to affect agricultural productivity being the major preoccupation of our people.
“Like most parts of the country, the region is faced with the challenge of the dearth of functional public and private companies to absorb the ever-growing number of skilled and unskilled labour in the area there is the need for each state to intensify its efforts in the recovery process and to evolve sustainable means of livelihood to our people for accelerated development,” the Governor stated.
Buni further said that the meeting has provided another golden opportunity for the states to share ideas on laying a solid foundation for a brighter future for the States.
“The government of Yobe State under my leadership has identified revitalization of education as one of the key areas for post-insurgency socio-economic rejuvenation. We have remained focused on the declaration of State of Emergency at the inception of our administration and the current Education Revitalization Appeal Fund in which we have raised funds above the set targets in most of the Local Government Areas. Simultaneously, we are gearing our efforts towards revamping agriculture to serve as an instrument for the attainment of food security, employment and revenue generation,” the governor said.
The meeting was attended by the chairman of the North-East governors’ forum and Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, his Gombe state counterpart Inuwa Yahaya and the deputy governors of Adamawa, Bauchi and Taraba States.
