Govs raise the alarm over humanitarian crisis in the North East 

By Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo 

The North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has raised an alarm over what it calls “daunting humanitarian and infrastructural challenges” ravaging the North East sub-region of the country. 

 In a communiqué issued yesterday at the end of the forum’s 12th meeting in Jalingo, Taraba State, and signed by the Chairman of the forum and governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the forum noted that there had been remarkable improvement in terms of security following massive onslaught on insurgency. 

 The forum also expressed serious concern over the high cost of farm inputs, warning that it could lead to food insecurity in the near future.

 The communiqué reads in parts: “The North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF), comprising the Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States, held its 12th meeting in Jalingo, Taraba State. It continues to appreciate the level of cooperation and collaboration among member states in the subregion. It thus, recommits itself to the pursuit of common issues of sub-regional concern and pursuance of collective course on matters that are related to the security, social and economic integration of the sub region. 

 “Forum acknowledges the appreciable success recorded in the onslaught against the insurgency in the north- East but regrets that the subregion is still confronted by daunting humanitarian and infrastructural challenges.

 “Forum took into cognizance the forecast of the credible agencies on climate risk and the impending flood disaster in the subregion. It therefore calls for proactive measures in confronting the flood and robust sensitization of settlers along the flood plains. It also called for support from both Federal Government and NEDC to reconstruct the broken infrastructure especially bridges by the flood.

 “Forum decries high cost of Agricultural inputs which might have direct negative consequences on farm outputs next year. To avert impending food crises ahead, it calls for more subsidies to farmers and robust preparation for dry season farming.

 Earlier, the Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, urged the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to expedite actions on the reconstruction of the collapsed Namnai Bridge in Gassol Local Government area of the State that was washed away by floodwaters last year.

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