Yobe state Governor Mai Mala Buni has called for urgent and united action to tackle the resurgence of Boko Haram insurgency.
He also emphasised the need for the charting of a course towards economic self-reliance in Nigeria’s North-east region.
Speaking at the 11th meeting of the North East Governors’ Forum, which he hosted in Damaturu, Governor Buni welcomed his counterparts from Borno, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, and Bauchi states, as well as members of the National Assembly, development partners, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.
At the meeting during which the governors collectively called for united action against the renewed insurgency, Governor Buni emphasised the region’s collective commitment to peace, progress, and development.
He acknowledged the forum’s history of promoting strong regional cooperation and stressed the importance of reviewing previous resolutions to develop effective strategies for shared challenges.
He described the meeting as timely, especially in the light of “the worrisome deployment of technology by the enemy” and renewed Boko Haram attacks in parts of the region.
“This should be critically examined to create a stronger synergy between the state and federal governments and security agencies, for a strategic and effective response,” Buni stated.
He called for immediate measures to consolidate recent gains in peace, security, and socio-economic development, while also urging that resolutions from the forum be swiftly communicated to national security chiefs and relevant federal institutions to strengthen coordination.
Governor Buni expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership during a period of national and regional challenges, and reaffirmed the North East Governors’ support for policies aimed at building a stronger, united, and prosperous Nigeria.
Paying tribute to the sacrifices of the military, Civilian JTF, vigilante groups, and local hunters, Buni turned attention to the region’s economic future, stressing the need to reduce dependency on federal allocations by unlocking local economic potential.
He stressed the importance of creating employment opportunities for the region’s youth to prevent their vulnerability to recruitment by terrorist and criminal organisations.
Governor Buni passionately advocated for making agriculture attractive and profitable through the provision of necessary machinery, equipment, and inputs.
He highlighted the region’s vast arable land and large population as key assets for achieving food sufficiency, food security, and economic prosperity.
Governor Buni, at the end of his address, expressed his appreciation to local and international development partners for their continued support in resettlement, reconstruction, and recovery efforts. He wished all participants fruitful deliberations and a memorable stay in the state.
In his remarks, Chairman of the North East Governors Forum, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno state, also called for renewed action against the resurgence of the insurgency in the region.
Governor Zulum 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.
“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.