Lalong emerges Northern Governors’ Forum Chairman, Masari heads Security Committee, N6bn regional economic recovery plan unveiled

The Northern Governors’ Forum, on Friday, elected Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State as its new Chairman.
Governor Kassim Shettima of Borno State, who is the outgoing chairman of the forum, disclosed this at the end of a meeting in Kaduna.
He said the forum has the confidence that Lalong would continue to build on the achievements of its past leaders.
Shettima said the election of the Plateau governor was based on the peace and harmony he has brought to the people of his state.
He commended members of the forum for electing Lalong and urged them to give him all needed support to succeed.
The Forum also appointed Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State to head its committee to proffer solution to the security challeges in the region.
Shettima disclosed this in the communique he read at the end of the meeting.
“The Northern States Governors’ Forum convened a meeting to deliberate on the major issues affecting the northern states and the Nations at large, particularly the current challenges of insecurity which seem to be deteriorating, despite concerted efforts by the federal and state governments.
“The forum deliberated extensively on the nature of insecurity currently bedeviling the region and various ways and means of dealing with the situation.
“In order to tackle the challenges holistically in an all-encompassing manner, the forum set up a committee under the chairmanship the Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, to inter-alia develop a comprehensive regional plan of action that could bring lasting solutions to the lingering crises.
“The committee, as part of its mandate would seek audience with Mr. President and make adequate presentation to him on the true nature of the security challenges,” Shettima said.
He said the committee would make suggestion based on insightful analysis and assessment of the situation on the best possible ways to solve the incessant problems.
According to him, the forum also appointed a committee headed by Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State to study the current structure as well as, mission and vision of the New Nigeria Development Company Limited (NNDC).
He said the committee would evolve a roadmap on how best to resuscitate and re-invigorate the company towards the realisation of its pre-set goals and objectives.
“Membership of the committee include Niger State Governor, Alh Abubakar Bello, Shamsudeen Usman, Ibrahim Ali, Bello Maccido, Ambrose Feese, MK. Ahmed and Abdullahi A. Sule.
“The forum after due consideration and wide consultations resolved to appoint Malam Tanimu Yakubu as the new Chairman of NNDC in view of his vast knowledge and wealth of experience.
Tanimu Yakubu is a former adviser to former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on Economic matters.
“It also resolved that the current management of the company which had been operating in acting capacity should remain until the appointment of a substantive Executive management.
“The committee on the NNDC as part of its assignment should ensure that the board of the NNDC follows due process in the appointment of the new executive management through advertisement of vacant positions and other extant procedures.
“Similarly, due process to be followed in respect to the new Nigerian Newspapers Company Limited.
“The forum also directed New Capital Properties, a subsidiary under NNDC to continue with the disposal of NNNC properties with a view to settling other outstanding liabilities of the company and transforming it into a new media outfit,” Shettima said.
He said the forum expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for settling the pension arrears of the company’s pensioners.
“The forum thanked the management of Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation for their laudable programmes and other noble activities that have direct impacts on the lives of the people.
“The forum assured the foundation of its continued support and assistance at all times.
“The forum elected the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Mr. Simon Lalong as the New Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum with effect from 29th May 2019.”
Governors of Borno, Katsina, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Sokoto and Kebbi States attended the event.
The Forum also created a joint financial institution worth N6 billion to serve as a vehicle for the region’s economic recovery and development.
Shettima said the initiative was part of the efforts to make the region attain some degree of financial independence.
He said under the scheme, the region’s moribund textile industry and NNDC would be revived.
Shettima said the fund expected to be contributed by all the 19 northern governors of the region had so far realised N650 million.
“In pursuance of these objectives, each state is to contribute N50 million monthly for a period of six months.
“So far, we have N650 million out of the expected N5.7 billion. I am therefore calling on states that are yet to fulfill their pledge, to do so, in order to enable us embark on the implementation of the various programmes and projects articulated under the scheme.
“These include the establishment of a renewable energy plant, capable of generating 3000 – 4000MW of electricity.
“The forum has also taken pragmatic initiatives to resuscitate the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) to restore it to its position as the business and economic live-wire of the region,’’ he said.
According to him, about 6 billion naira was approved by the forum for the implementation of a five-year strategic development plan, which will propel the region into economic prosperity.
“In addition, a new commodity marketing company was established, as a subsidiary of the NNDC, to develop and promote agricultural activities in the region.
“To further consolidate the economic base of the region, the NNDC had signed a memorandum of understanding with Savanna Petroleum Limited for the development of four oil blocks.
“The NNDC has commenced negotiations with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to venture into oil and gas exploration in the Northern region,’’ Shettima said.
He also disclosed plans to resuscitate the Kaduna Textiles Company to full production of textile materials, “which hopefully, would among other things, meet the uniform needs of our Armed Forces and other para-military agencies.“
Shettima said the forum had also resolved the misunderstanding between pensioners and the management of the New Nigerian Newspapers.
He said that the process had commenced for the payment of the entitlements of the pensioners.
He said the forum had a strategic plan to reinvigorate the newspaper and make it economically viable and professionally competitive.
On security situation in the region, the NSGF chairman said “We, as a forum, has introduced and implemented quite a number of measures to stem the tide of security challenges in the region.’’
Shettima said the NSGF had incorporated criminal offences into the penal code of Northern Nigeria to address the increasing security challenges in the region.
“Especially emergent criminal activities such as kidnapping, cattle rustling, incessant communal clashes, inciting religious preaching and suicide bombings among others, most of which were not properly codified in the criminal justice system of Northern Nigeria.
“The Forum, therefore established a Committee of Attorneys-General of the 19 Northern States to critically examine the provisions of the criminal justice system vis-à-vis, the emergent criminal activities, with a view to ensuring that perpetrators of such criminal offences are brought to justice.
“Accordingly, the forum advised all State Houses of Assembly in the 19 Northern States to make amendments and modifications to the existing criminal justice system,’’ Shettima said.
He also commended the Federal Government for the steps taken to address the situation.
“I would like to, therefore, express our gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, for his quick and immediate response to the issues of insecurity in the region which of recent, seem to be deteriorating.
“We appeal to the Federal Government to re-strategise and come up with measures that could deal with the situation more permanently. “
He said the forum had also initiated the move to fight the menace of drug abuse among youths and women in the northern region in a holistic manner.
Shettima said the Forum had set up committees of relevant stakeholders in each state of the region, towards ensuring eliminating the scourge of drug abuse.
“At the National level, the Forum made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to frontally deal with the issue of drug abuse and possibly declare a state of emergency in the fight against the scourge.
“It is gratifying to note that the Federal Government has heeded our call, which culminated in the setting up of the Marwa Committee against drug abuse.
“I would, at this juncture, extend the forum’s appreciation to the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hajiya Hadiza Usman.
“And Dr. Vincent, a professional psychiatrist, for drawing the attention of the forum to the problems associated with drug abuse and making invaluable and implementable recommendations on the way forward,’’ he said.
Shettima expressed appreciation to members of the forum for what he described as “considerable support and cooperation you have been giving me in the last four years I have had the honor of being the Chairman of the Northern States’ Governors’ Forum.
“Within this period, we have been able to collectively make some modest achievements in various sectors, which are deliberately initiated and implemented for the overall growth and development of the Northern region and to some extent, Nigeria as a whole.“