27th September, 2021
The Northern Governors’ Forum and traditional rulers are holding an emergency meeting in Kaduna, first time since February when they last met.
According to the chairman of the forum, Governor Simon Lalong, the meeting will focus on insecurity which remains a scourge of the region.
“We shall take stock of how far we have gone in tackling banditry, kidnapping and insurgency and also chart the way forward”, Lalong said
In addition, he said the meeting will discuss emerging national issues.
“Key among them is the issue of Value Added Tax collection and the surrounding controversy”, Lalong said.
Host governor, Nasir El-Rufai said the northern region is facing severe economic and security challenges that require the convening of the emergency meeting between the governors and traditional rulers.
The meeting is taking place at the Executive Council Chamber of the Kaduna State Government House.
Governors in attendance are those Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Borno, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Plateau and Gombe.
The governors of Niger, Kogi, Benue, Niger, Zamfara and Taraba states are represented by their deputies.
Also present are the Sultan of Sokoto and the Chairman of Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Abubakar Saad.
The Shehu of Borno, the Emir of Zazzau, Nuhu Bamali, Estu Nupe, Emir of Kano and other royal fathers are also attending the meeting.
The February meeting was attended by the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, and other Members of the National Assembly; the Chief of Staff to the President; Minister of Information and Culture; the Inspector General of Police; Director General States Security Service
amongst others.
The meeting arrived at several resolutions bordering on improving security of our region; enhancing socio-economic prosperity of the people; addressing humanitarian challenges of internally displaced persons; building synergy with the Federal Government and our counterparts from other parts of the country among others.
But on security, today’s meeting will probably conclude that insecurity remains a big problem in the region.