Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, has lamented that on the economic scene of the country, the past year has experienced some convulsions as the Federal Government initiated policies aimed at restructuring the economy.
The governor stressed that “these policies have fuelled inflation, with transportation and food being the worst hit. The huge public outcry is understandable.”
Bala Mohammed was speaking at the opening ceremony of the North-East Governors Forum (NEGF) meeting held on Friday at the Government House, Bauchi.
According to him, “In Bauchi State, we are grateful for the intervention of the Federal Government and for the understanding shown by the President.”
He said that, “As has been widely reported, we spent an additional N2.5 billion to augment the Federal Government intervention. Obviously, measures by both the federal and state governments, though very helpful, have lived up to their name: palliative, only temporary measures. In the long run, governments must incentivize individuals for self-reliance and sustainable growth.”
“Your Excellencies, as we commence this meeting, permit me to acknowledge the valiant effort of our security high command and our patriotic men and women under arms, who have substantially ‘degraded’ the menace of Boko Haram,” he added.
The Governor added that, “Granted that the twin evils of banditry and kidnapping are still with us, it is gratifying to note that through the patriotic efforts of our gallant military, with the support of other stakeholder groups such as the vigilante, many displaced persons are returning to their homes, and individuals can now undertake various economic activities while investors can now operate with higher levels of security guarantees.”
He, however, said, “That should make us happy. In spite of that, the future remains uncertain, and once again, as leaders, we are summoned to wear our thinking caps, to reason outside the box, and, in the process, to offer the pathway to the true emancipation of our people. That, in my humble view, remains our core mandate.”
Bala Mohammed also said, Your Excellency, Sir, it goes without saying that the most potent weapons against insecurity are education and gainful employment. Both confer on the individual a sense of pride and dignity and reduce the temptation to join criminal gangs.”
“To achieve these, we should, in my humble view, again remain the guiding spirit of our deliberations and the enduring focus of our forum,” he added.
“By the same token, I wish to remind this august gathering of my proposal, during the Forum’s meeting in March 2022, on the need to consummate and implement our Regional Master Plan for economic rejuvenation, with ambitious goals that are matched by realistic timelines, in order to ensure its faithful implementation. In this, I wish to state that we do not have the luxury of time, the governor added.
Bala Mohammed also said, “Mr. Chairman, even as we prioritise corporate collaboration at the subregional level, I believe that member states should always leverage the beneficial policies and facilities of members.”
According to him, “That was high on our mind when, in Bauchi State, we decided to establish the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy; that states of the Northeast should be able to take advantage of the school to substantially scale up their human capital in strategic skills.”
The governor stressed that the same goes for the International Conference Centre (ICC) component of our renovated government house. These facilities will always be open to our sister states and others.”
He said, “Given that this is the second meeting of the Forum in Bauchi in two years, I cannot adequately express my profound gratitude to Your Excellencies for the confidence reposed in the government and people of Bauchi State. But it goes beyond that.”
He added, “I must say that the frequency of our meetings clearly demonstrates the seriousness with which our members approach issues of zonal unity, the challenges facing our zone, and the resolve to justify the confidence reposed in us by the electorate in our various states. I can see it, I can feel it, and it gives me great joy.”
“Your Excellencies, I am proud to belong to this group. “It is on that note that I would like to applaud our able chairman and compatriot, His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, for his commitment and exemplary leadership that have sustained the Forum as a formidable regional bloc,” he added.
The Governor also said that through his effort, despite being made up of different parties, the Northeast Governors’ Forum has continued to grow from strength to strength since its inception ten years ago as a nonpartisan platform for addressing issues of common interest and group survival within the context of the Nigerian nation. Your Excellency, our highly respected Chairman, I salute you.”
According to him, Since our previous meeting here in March 2024, so much has changed in the socio-economic and political landscape of the country. Topping the list of political changes is the emergence of His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Similarly, a brand new youthful governor has emerged in Taraba State in the person of His Excellency, Dr Agbu Kefas.”
“Your Excellency, my brother, Agbu, let me use this opportunity to congratulate you on the revival of the historical Nwonyo Fishing Festival, an event that dates back over 90 years but that went into oblivion a long time ago. From the video footage and newspaper photographs, it was indeed a spectacle to behold,” he added.
Bala Mohammed stressed that beyond the fanfare, those are the kinds of events that rekindle a people’s heritage, cement bonds of unity, deepen community engagement, boost tourism, and generally re-energise the economic landscape to provide limitless avenues for the people to exploit and enjoy the opportunities in the environment. That is what this forum is all about. My dear brother Agbu, thank you for reminding us that we must never lose sight of our values and our heritage.”
“Finally, while appreciating the Committee of the SSGs, the Technical Working Committee, and the Secretariat of the NEGF for the excellent preparations that have gone into hosting this meeting, let me again formally welcome Your Excellencies to Bauchi and wish all of us very fruitful deliberations,” Bala Mohammed concluded.
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