North’s economy has crumbled – Niger Gov

By Wole Mosadomi

Minna—Niger State Governor, Dr Babangida Aliyu has lamented that the economy of the North has crumbled due to insecurity unleashed on the region by Boko Haram insurgents.

Aliyu also regretted the huge army of unemployed youths in the North pointing out that there was urgent need for the revival of the Northern economy and job creation.

He spoke when the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North led by the Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki visited him at Government House, Minna, the capital of Niger State.

File photo: The Lamidon Adamawa, Barkindo Aliyu Mustafa, the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu; Governor of Nassarawa State, Umar Tanko Almakura and Capt. Idris Wada of Kogi State during a meeting

Aliyu said that creation of jobs for the unemployed youths in the region would stop them from being used as thugs by mischief makers.

Governor Aliyu described Boko Haram as a manifestation of a problem adding that if the problem is to be solved, the sponsors of the group would be identified and punished accordingly.

He noted the need for all the economic issues in the North to be looked into properly with lasting solutions proffered.

“The Boko Haram is a manifestation of a problem and if solved on permanent basis, their sponsors should be identified and punished because although they have not taken arms against the country, they are more dangerous than those fighting the nation whom we know,” he said.

He, however, called for true federalism in the country  saying, “where the federal government is too strong and intolerant of other people’s views, we will be creating another problem.

“We must pay attention to what is happening in all the political parties because party leadership should not be allowed to manipulate the parties for their selfish interests and this is how to democratize the activities of political parties where members and not a select group of members’ views will be the guiding principles”

Aliyu further explained that the state had been enjoying peace because the government had been proactive on security issues by abolishing the indigene and non indigene syndrome.