Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state; has said that socioeconomic and environmental factors have prevented the harness and exploit of oil and gas, mineral and agricultural and resources in Northeast. The sub-region with a population of 22.7 million comprises Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe and Yobe states. While the decade long Boko Haram insurgency, has also claimed over 36,000 lives with destruction of $9 billion (N3.42 trillion) worth of property in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Zulum disclosed this Saturday in his welcome address at six-member North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) held in Maiduguri, the state capital. “The Northeast has great potentials of human and natural resources,” he said; lamenting that the path to harness and exploit these resources has always been challenging. He attributed the non-harness and exploit of these resources to several socioeconomic and environmental factors. Continued; “Today (Saturday), we are gathered here to look into such inhibiting factors through collective efforts and means; for the overall interest of region. He said the six Governors must therefore; strive for regional co-operation and understanding through sustainable periodic regional dialogue and interface. According to him, their destiny is in their hands; so that concerted efforts should be instituted to explore and exploit all opportunities at respective disposals. “These will improve our capacity and quality of our livelihoods,” he said, adding that this is the right for the collective enterprises of region. On the challenges of developing human and natural resources, he said: “We cannot be oblivious of the fact that; constrains are too numerous. “Yet; our ambitions and aspirations to tackle them are much higher, as our limited resources, having constrained us from fully exploiting the region’s untapped resources. He therefore; tasked the five Governors on their responsibility of engaging all stakeholders in the development of Northeast. He said in meeting people’s aspirations, the Governors have to define their respective needs and aspirations; so that programmes and projects meant for region must be driven by stakeholders. He suggested that people’s aspirations could be realized through global best practice, in which people could honestly and urgently access what belongs to them. While reviewing Gombe’s last meeting , he said: “In our last meeting in Gombe, we highlighted on critical issues bordering on security, power generation and distribution. “We also brainstormed on how to develop the agricultural, environmental sectors, including climate change as well as exploration of oil in North East among others.” He said the in Maiduguri is therefore; a follow up of discussions on identified six issues in Gombe. According to him; “We’ll consider and finalize the setting up of a technical committee to implement and monitor decisions reached,” noting that a feedback mechanism could be adopted to forge ahead. He said that the bold right steps of Governors; are their collective efforts to develop the Northeast onto platforms of socioeconomic heights. He therefore, called on sons and daughters of sub-region; to join and support them with Stakeholders’ cooperation in achieving people’s collective aspirations. While thanking his colleagues and committee members for solidarity visit on recent Baga attack, he said: “We cannot remain in silence while nearly half of our population still remains in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. He commended the President for all the efforts to restore peace in Borno state and the Northeast in general. He noted that security situation in the region, is still begging for more synergy and commitments of Stakeholders in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.
