Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and governor of Gombe state, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, has said that addressing insecurity and other challenges are crucial to the development of the North.
The governor spoke on Friday at the meeting of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF)which held at the Government House,Kaduna.
While commending the federal government for the fight against insecurity, Yahaya said more efforts was needed to bring an end to kidnapping, banditry and terrorism bedeviling the region.
He commiserating with the people of Kaduna state over the Tudun Biri bomb incident, assuring that the NSGF under his leadership, will work assiduously to ensure that the incident thoroughly investigated.
“Let me begin by expressing condolence to the people of Tudun Biri who are victims of the unfortunate bombing incident by the Nigerian Army unintended operations.
“We all witnessed the level of devastation and we all condemned the tragedy.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected families and the entire people of Kaduna State.
“I want to assure you that all the Northern governors are working assiduously to ensure that the unfortunate incident is thoroughly investigated with the view to compensating the victims and take corrective measures so as to prevent future occurrence”, the NSGF chairman said.
He added that, “As governors of Northern State, while we are commending the federal government over the fight against insecurity, we believe that more need to be done to bring an end to kidnapping, banditry, communal clashes and terrorism bedeviling our region.”
In his remarks, Governor Uba Sani, lamented the spate of insecurity in the north.
He called for the establishment of command and command and control centre to coordinate a joint operations aimed at tackling the terrorism and other related crimes in the region.
Sani,“We must develop a common strategy and operational plan to tackle insecurity.
“We must establish a command and control centre to coordinate our joint efforts against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements in our region”.
Speaking further, Sani, said diversity and ethno- religious unity remain the foundation for the advancement of the ideals of regional peace, security and development in the North.
He urged governors of the region to work together towards empowering the people as key production forces for the growth of the north.
The governor said, “Our region has been grappling with challenges of insecurity. Our human development indices have been declining.
“For the Northern Governors Forum to remain relevant, we must forge unity among our people and collaborate on issues of development.
“We must fashion a marshal plan for the development of the North. Our situation is dire and requires concerted and sustained action.
“Diversity and ethno- religious unity remain the foundation for the advancement of the ideals of regional peace, security and development in the North”.
Yahaya: Tackling insecurity, crucial to development of the north
