The exigencies surrounding insecurity, almajiris and livestock management are not issues to gloss over according to the Northern Governors Forum. These issues have painted the north in bad light before the nation and needed to be pro actively nipped in the bud.
Chairman of the Forum, who is also the Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong in his opening remarks revealed this while delivering his speech at the Northern Governors meeting in Kaduna.
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 its people, following the damning security threats occasioned by kidnappers taking over the express ways and making life unsafe in the region.
Mr. Lalong noted that the meeting is expected to receive briefing from a committee Chaired by the 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 controversy, misinformation, politicization and even polarization of the country against regional and religious lines.
In the Chairman’s words.. “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,”.
Governor Lalong, further explained that there will be deliberations on the National Livestock Transformation Plan adopted by the National Economic Council headed 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.
He said “as a region that holds the comparative advantage in livestock management, as an economic and socio cultural vocation, the region must come up with a common front on how to synergize and draw from the funds available for the program and also ensure that it derives maximun benefit for the people whose livelihood depend on it…
“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,”.
Lalong said that there was the need for clarification on the issues, bring stakeholders together 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.
In another development, the Chairman also informed everyone that 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 the 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 resuscitate 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 added that the menace of almajiri system must be handled by the forum because of the socio-security challenges of the phenomenon in the region which 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.
In attendance at the meeting were Governors, Deputy Governor’s, Secretaries to the State Governments from across the nineteen Northern States.
(C) Control TV. 2019
