‘Drug abuse fuelling insurgency’ — north-east governors seek int’l collaboration against insecurity

The North-east Governors’ forum has called on the international community to support the region in its efforts to stop drug trafficking.

The governors, in a communique issued on Wednesday after a meeting to discuss issues affecting the region, also called on the international community and other stakeholders to help find a permanent solution to insecurity.

The two-day meeting, which began on Tuesday, held at the government house in Jalingo, Taraba state capital.

The governors also urged security agencies to continue to collaborate in the fight against insurgency in the region, adding that cooperation among security agencies is necessary to sustain the “current gains” recorded in the war against insurgents.

“The Forum calls on the diplomatic community, partners and donor agencies supporting the region to activate the process of transiting from humanitarian to stabilisation and durable solution within the region,” the communique reads in part.

“This will ensure sustainability and give people the opportunity to help themselves out of poverty. This will address socio-economic dimension of insecurity in the region.

“The Forum also notes the negative impact of drug and narcotic substances in the region and the extent to which it fuels the insurgency and other forms of criminality in the region. It, therefore, calls for support in the area of stopping drug trafficking and enforcing narcotic control within the region and across the borders.”

The governors also expressed concern over the delay of the Mambilla hydroelectric power project, and asked the federal government to take urgent measures to address the issue.

“The Forum deliberated extensively on the presentation on the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project and noted with dismay, that the project as important as it is to Nigeria and the North-East sub-region, is surrounded by a lot of contractual encumbrances which have stalled its take-off and realisation,” the governors said.

“The Forum, therefore, calls on the President to accord the project the desired seriousness by establishing a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to address the encumbrances and bring the project to reality.”