Ishaku commends FG over fight against insecurity
By Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
The Executive Governor of Taraba State Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku has commended the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari over the renewed energy in confronting the increase wave of insecurity in the country.
The Governor gave the commendation while delivering a keynote address at the 5th meeting of North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) held at the Taraba State Government House, Jalingo.
He stated that the military, police and other security organizations had continued to play an important role in maintaining peace and security in trouble areas of the country.
The governor who pledged to remain supportive to security agencies at all times pointed out that there must be a cut off in the insurgents’ sources of fund, recruitment and supplies else their threats would remain intractable in the country.
He said “I must acknowledge that the Military, police and other security organizations had played and have continue to play an important role in maintaining peace and security in trouble areas and so we will not fail to provide them with the required assistance and cooperation in the difficult undertaking.
“Permit me to salute the Nigerian Military’s sacrifices, heroism, and professionalism, not just in the fight against insurgency but also in defending the country’s sovereignty and unity”. He added.
Lamenting the level of destruction caused by the alarming state of insecurity in the country, the governor noted that the country had lost a large section of its population as many people had lost love ones and valuable belongings especially as a result of the persistent Boko Haram activities.
He said the displacement of people from their ancestral homes by the insurgents had resulted in a serious refugees crises and Taraba State has had to shoulder the burden of their plight, with thousands of people fleeing their villages and towns in search of safe home in the state.
The Governor also expressed displeasure over the Farmers Herders conflict which had resulted in a high number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the State pointing out that the situation had caused severe influence on agricultural output, crime and increase in unemployment rate.
He noted that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and its Taraba Sate counterpart as well as Local and International NGOs had done a lot to alleviate the sufferings of the refugees but the problem remains tremendous and much more had to be done.
While harping on the rich potentials God had deposited in the North East Region, the governor identified the Mambila Hydro-Electric Power, oil, gas and solid minerals as God’s gifts to the good people of the region which need to be tap urgently to increase the general wellbeing of the people.
The Governor who stated that oil and gas had been discovered in Bauchi-Gombe axis and in Taraba State also urged the Federal Government to expand and expedite exploration in the chad Basin and Benue trough as geological report had posited that it is rich in oil and gas.
He said early exploitation of petroleum resources in the region would increase its revenue profile as a result of the 13 percent derivation principle enjoyed by oil producing states.
Accordingly, the governor urged the NEGF to push for the removal of the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources from the exclusive list to the concurrent list for the benefit of the Central and regional governments.
The 5th meeting of the North East Governors’ Forum which is billed to last for two days in the state have all the governors in attendance except the Executive Governor of Yobe State, His Excellency Hon. Mala Buni who is been represented by his Deputy.
