…North-East governors want President Buhari to equip the military with sophisticated weapons
The governors from the North-East of Nigeria under the name North-East Governors Forum (NGF) have thrown their weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari and his tactics of exploring military forces to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the region.
According to the NGF, Buhari should intensify the fight against terrorism by equipping the military through the provision of more modern and sophisticated apparatuses.
The call was made by the north-east governors after their meeting on Saturday in a communique signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum.
Aside provision of hardware for the military, the governors urged the President to protect their people and farmlands, as well as supplying modern gadgets for the Police to execute their duties, like using velocity tear gas, trackers and armoured personnel carriers (APC) that would make their assignments effective.
Those present at the meeting were Adamawa Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri; Gombe Governor, Inuwa Yahaya; Bauchi Governor, Bala Mohammed; Deputy Governors of Taraba and Yobe, Haruna Manu and Idi Barde Gubana.
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In the forum, the state leaders promised to pool efforts in ensuring regional integration, growth and development, especially in exploitation of petroleum resources, solid minerals, agriculture and industrialisation.
The also made an appeal to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to work on recharging the Lake Chad basins from national water bodies for the utilisation of the region, implored the Federal Ministry of Works to re-award abandoned and redundant road projects to capable construction companies that would deliver on time.
Addressing the Mambila Hydroelectric power project and other related programmes, they urged the federal government to harmonise with their states to achieve maximal results for local consumption.
The governors also made their commitment known to the federal government’s project of transforming the Almajiri system for the region to harness both the Quranic and formal forms of education.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum was nominated by the forum as the chairman for another two years while the headquarters is Maiduguri.
