By Mubarak Aliyu Kobi, Bauchi
Governor Bala Muhammad Abdulkadir of Bauchi state and his five other counterparts under the north east Governor’s Forum have resolved to work together toward mitigating the effects of climate change within the subregion.
The forum notes that the issue of global warming and environmental degradation is among the major factors aggravating poverty and insecurity in the subregion therefore agreed to collaborate with initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and the global initiative of carbon credit financing in finding solutions to the challenge head on.
Reading the communique, after their meeting in Yola Adamawa state,The Yobe state Governor Mai Mala Buni said the Governors saw it paramount to form a robust mechanisms to strengthen the human capacity and socio-economic development of its people.
Adding that the forthcoming Northeast Joint Trade Fair slated between 26th February to 3rd March 2024 in Bauchi State, encourages active participation of all the relevant stakeholders from within and outside the subregion given the numerous opportunities to be provided.
“Forum reiterates the need for subregional integration and resolved that each member state should take up the matter with more seriousness by assigning such responsibility to an appointee with a cabinet status”.
“Forum appraised the compliance of the states with the decision earlier taken at the 8th meeting in Maiduguri to domesticate the Education Law 2022, as recommended by the Northeast Education Council. It thus called on states that are yet to domesticate the Law to do so as a matter of strategic regional integration” He added.
It also charged the Federal Ministry of Works and Northeast Development Commission NEDC to remove all the incumbrances leading to slow pace in the provision of infrastructure across the Northeastern States.
Similarly, the forum called for the repair of old gauge rail lines and the inclusion of the region into the Nigerian National Railway Transport Plan using the modern rail and National Road Plan to boost the socioeconomic development in the region.
The NEGF notes that although the security situation is improving positively in the region,there is the urgent need for more collaboration among states of the zone in the design of the security architecture for the region.
It reads “Forum notes with appreciation, the readiness of the Bauchi State Government to host the North East Regional Trade Fair between 26th February – 3rd March, 2024 and called on all the subnational entities within the region to actively participate in the fair while inviting the nation, Africa and the world to come and experience the rich culture, tourism potentials, hospitality, and economic opportunities that abound in the region”.
At the end of the meeting in Yola, The Secretariat resolved to hold the 10th Meeting in Bauchi between 23rd February – 26th March 2024 and commended the state for accepting the Host of the subregional trade fair.
