By YAKUBU UBA

North East Governors’ Forum has urged the military to neutralise insurgents that fail to surrender in the ongoing mass surrender by terrorists in the sub-region.

The Chairman of the North East Governors’ Forum, Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno, made the call on Saturday in Maiduguri at the 8th meeting of the forum.

Zulum, who lauded the military for the relative peace in the sub-region that facilitated the return of normalcy in many areas, said there was need to smoke the remnants that refused to surrender from their hideout.

“Let me use this auspicious occasion to commend our brave military in the fight against the insurgency which remains unquestionable while their determination to succeed is very glaring.

“No doubt, they have considered and acted upon a wide range of options in the fight against terrorism, thereby recording tremendous progress which has clearly indicated that the end to the insurgency in the sub region is fast approaching.

“I want to call on the Nigerian military to reach in to the enclaves of the insurgents who are not ready to lay down their arms. We must pursue them to their hideouts in the remote nooks and crannies and neutralise those who refuse to surrender,” Zulum said.

The governor, who decried the negative effect of insurgency that affected the socioeconomic activities in the sub-region, said until the terrorists were subdued, efforts to improve things would be slowed down.

The governor also spoke on the erratic rainfall recorded this year, and last year’s flood which devastated food and infrastructure in the sub-region and urged for FG’s intervention.

He said on their part, the north east governors had taken measures to repair some of the damage done.

“I urge us to collectively strategise and develop new adaptable farming methods to mitigate the impact of the low rainfall on crop cultivation this farming season.

“Therefore, there is the need for us to focus more on irrigation farming this time around more than ever before.

“I urge the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to focus on the support for irrigation farming in the sub-region in addition to its key mandate of providing critical infrastructure for the sustainable development of the sub-region.”

The governor who also spoke on illegal mining, sought for partnership with Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals in curbing the activities of such miners.

He also drew the attention of the forum to the recent amendment to the 1999 Constitution which saw the removal of Power Generation and Railway Transportation from exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list.

He said that the development was important for them to exploit towards the provision of independent power supply and rail transportation in the sub-region.

Vice President Kashim Shettima graced the opening of the meeting and presentation of N15 billion palliatives to the governors by NEDC and commended the governors for their unity in facing challenges in spite of party differences.

He urged them to sustain the tempo. (NAN)

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