North West Governors’ Forum has agreed on an action plan and timeline to achieve short, medium, and long-term solutions to the current security challenges facing the region.
The chairman of the forum, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, hinted at this in a vote of thanks marking the closing sessions of the two-day North West Peace and Security Summit organised by the forum in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Government House, Katsina.
Following their discussions with representatives of UN agencies and the North West Governors, a target was agreed upon. Malam Dikko Radda stated that the agreed-upon target will be supported by a Secretariat to be established within three weeks. This Secretariat will develop a detailed action plan with a timeline.
This, according to Governor Radda, will ensure the governors hold themselves accountable for implementing the recommendations from the two-day summit.
While appreciating all those who took part and contributed meaningfully to the possible way out towards addressing security challenges, the chairman of the forum promised that all their inputs would be put to use for the benefit of the entire North West. Malam Dikko Radda remarked that the summit had unearthed the root causes of the current security challenges and highlighted the major constraints on the problem.
He said deficiencies on the part of those in authority were fully discussed and arrived at a unified decision. Governor Dikko Radda reassured the commitment of the governors in the North West to support all initiatives that could lead to bringing about peace and security in the region. However, he said they cannot achieve the set goal without putting in place an economic development perspective, which is the major pillar to reduce the effect of insecurity and provide gainful employment to our youths.
Malam Dikko Umar Radda then thanked the UN and the UNDP for organising the event in collaboration with the North West governors, and all the stakeholders who took part in the session. The summit was rounded off with conversations on some topics including “Socio-Economic Development – Advancing Livelihoods & Food Security for Peace and Resilience in the Northwest,” featuring the state governor, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, and his Jigawa counterpart, Umar Namadi.
