North East Governors Warn of Food Crisis Amidst High Farm Input Costs.
By Daniel Mtindiga, Jalingo.
The Nigerian North-East Governors Forum has unanimously decried the high cost of agricultural inputs across Nigeria, warning against the potential decline in farm outputs that could trigger a food crisis next year.
In a communiqué signed by the Chairman of the Forum, His Excellency Professor Baba Gana Umara Zulum, and issued at the end of the 12th Meeting of the Forum in Jalingo, Taraba State, the Governors called for increased subsidies to farms and robust preparations for dry season farming.
They also raised alarm over the forecast of imminent flooding in the subregion, urging proactive measures, massive sensitization of communities living along flood plains, and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, especially bridges, with support from the Federal Government and the North-East Development Commission (NEDC).
The Forum, however, acknowledged the appreciable success recorded in the fight against insurgency but expressed concern over persisting humanitarian and infrastructural challenges across the North-East region of Nigeria.
Finally, they reiterated their unwavering commitment to addressing energy poverty in the subregion by tasking the Committee on Power and Energy to develop an integrated North-East Power Masterplan, with emphasis on solar energy as a sustainable option.
The forum, which comprises the Governors of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Umar Ahmadu Fintiri; Professor Baba Gana Umara Zulum of Borno; Sen. Bala A. Muhammed of Bauchi; Hon. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe; Alh. Mohammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe; and the host, Dr. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, commended the level of cooperation among member states and pledged to continue pursuing common issues of regional concern, particularly in the areas of security, social, and economic integration.
