An emergency meeting of the Northern Governors Forum held at Hassan Usman Katsina house Kaduna with Plateau State Governor and Chairman of the forum Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong Presiding. Lalong in his opening remarks told his colleagues that the burning issues on the table include insecurity, livestock management, economic development and dealing with the Almajiri Phenomenon.
Emergency meeting to deliberate on issues surrounding insecurity, livestock
management, Almajiris and poverty.
Chairman of the Forum, who is also the Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong disclosed this while delivering his opening speech.
The Chairman said that the emergency meeting was summoned to address
matters of urgent importance on the survival of the region, as well as
the wellbieng of the people, NAN reports.
Lalung noted that the meeting was expected to receive briefing from a
committee Chaired by Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, assigned to
develop a comprehensive regional plan of action that could bring lasting
solutions to the lingering crisis in the region.
According to him, another major issue to be deliberated upon is the
issue of livestock management in the country, particularly the Northern
region, which has continued to generate discussions, controversy,
misinformation and even politicization.
“You are aware of the many attempts to find lasting solutions to the
incessant farmers/herder clashes, cattle rustling and associated
criminalities such as banditry, kidnapping amongst others,” he said.
The Chairman further explained that there will be deliberations on
the National Livestock Transformation Plan adopted by the National
Economic Council chaired by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
The plan seeks to support and strengthen the development of market
driven ranches in the livestock ecosystem for improved productivity
through breed improvement, pasture production, efficient land and water
utilization.
“As a region that holds the comparative advantage in livestock
management, as an economic and socio cultural vocation, we need to come
up with a common front on how to synergize and draw from the funds
available for the program and also ensure that we derive maximun benefit
for our people.
“Hopefully, we shall develop strategies on how best to deal with
misinformation about the National livestock plan which is sometimes
confused with the rural grazing area project,” he added.
Lalong said that the clarification was important because of the
urgent need to cultivate all stakeholders and provide a conducive
environment for nomadic herders and those who rear livestock.
According to him, this can be achieved using the private/public partnership model.
The Chairman assured that, in the course of their engagement, the
remodelled New Nigeria Development Company shopping mall will be
commissioned.
He said that the remodelled complex was in line with the company’s
mandate of promoting investments and enhancing commercial and industrial
development of the region.He recalled that, a committee was set up under the Chairmanship of
Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar to study the current
structure, mission and vision of the Company and come up with a road map
on how best to resusitate and reinvigorate the company.
“We have to think out of the box, especially, when it comes to the
economy of our region which has so much needs that are staring us in the
face everyday”.
The Chairman said that the Forum will continue its discourse on how
to solve the almajiri phenomenon which had continued to be a social and
security challenge for the region.
He therefore urged his counterparts to engage in a robust, open and
frank discussion that will assist them to come up with practical and
effective resolutions that would move the region to the next level.
“We cannot afford to do otherwise, because our people have entrusted
us with their mandates and look up to us in dealing with their day to
day challenges which includes poverty, illiteracy, insecurity and
economic opportunities”.
The meeting drew Governors, their Deputies, Secretaries to the State
governments from across the nineteen States of the Northern region.
