The International Conference on Insurgency and Counter-insurgency
began on Tuesday, the 17th of March in Abuja. The three-day event is
billed to end today, the 19th, with stakeholders from the armed forces,
civil society and sundry stakeholders participating.
Organized by the Victim Support Fund (VSF), in conjunction with the
Nigerian Defence Academy, the event features panel paper presentations
and will climax with the drafting and presentation of a communiqué.
Below is an edited excerpt of the opening remarks by His Excellency,
the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, at the
workshop which is taking place at the Nigerian Airforce (NAF)
Conference Centre, Abuja.
“It gives me great pleasure to be invited here to give a brief remark
at this workshop that critically discusses the issue of insurgency and
counter-insurgency in Nigeria. It is more interesting to me because
the focus is the Boko Haram insurgency, a dangerous ideology,
unfortunately nursed and nurtured in Borno State. It is heart-warming
to note that the chapter of this asymmetric warfare will soon be
closed as even at the epicentre of the crisis, attention is now
focused on post-insurgency reconstruction and development. It is
pleasing to note that you have a number of competent scholars to
discuss the various perspectives of the insurgency itself and perhaps
come up with policy recommendations. What I will do in my brief
remarks is to share our thoughts on the efforts at rebuilding our
ravaged communities and reposition the state on the path of
development.
“Let me appreciate my friend, Professor Sunday Ochoche of the Victims
Support Fund (VSF) for his concerted efforts at ensuring meaningful
interventions in our state. I have closely worked with him even while
I was a Commissioner for Reconstruction Resettlement and
Rehabilitation.
“Unlike many INGOs, their approach is community driven and work in
synergy with government. At a point the proliferation and
heterogeneity of these non-state actors became of serious concern. At
a point we were having more than 100 INGOs and NGOs that operate in a
number of services and leading to poor standard of provision and
management and creating unwholesome economic outcomes like high cost
of rents and food stuff. There was also duplication of activity in
certain areas and leaving gaps in others resulting in resource wastage
and poor impact on the lives of the target population.
“This necessitated us to pass into law for the creation of a
coordinating mechanism, giving an institutional framework within which
all INGOs and NGOs operate in the state. This enabled a platform to
discuss a common programme of action, share information and understand
operating procedures of one another. It also ensured synergy of
operation, better resource utilization and optimal positive impact on
people’s lives. Let me make the point that the concerted military
operations have really undermined the capacity of the insurgents
greatly. There is no doubt that there is a significant improvement of
the security situation in general. We now have better tactical
approaches, more harmonious synergy amongst security operatives,
enhanced logistics support and improved complimentary support from the
CJTF and community intelligent gathering in the current fight. What is
required is to intensify the offensive onslaughts since most of their
hideouts are known. There is need to explore political options in
finding lasting solutions to the crisis. More of non-kinetic
strategies must be pursued. The establishment of the North-East
Development Commission is a fundamental sustainable development
initiative that gives a comprehensive framework for the post-conflict
socio-economic recovery, stabilization and development of the state
and sub-region.
“My policy thrust has been scaling up development programmes for
stabilization and economic recovery alongside the humanitarian service
programmes. We do not want to solve our immediate problems by piling
up new crises for future generations. In our strategy for complete
recovery, we want an increase in the sort of economic activity which
will provide real jobs and which will rebuild our decaying
infrastructure. In the last decade of insurgency, we realised that
insecurity and unemployment are two sides of the same coin, one
leading to the other. The Borno State Government is currently
constructing a skill acquisition centre in Muna which is designed with
14 training units on tailoring, tie and dye, solar installation,
plumbing, refrigeration, air conditioning etc. One of such is to be
replicated in all the senatorial districts. Many existing ones were
renovated and supplied with the necessary tools to commence training
of our youths.
“As a government, we embraced the national and regional security
architecture designed to counter the insurgency; n the state and sub
region. We are relentless in building the institutional and human
capacities of all the security operatives to ensure sustainable peace
and tranquility in the state.
We deliberately institute policies and programmes that would promote
peaceful and harmonious co-existence amongst the people of Borno
irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliations. These and
many more we do to ensure peace reigns in our dear state. Let me once
again express my appreciation for the honour and wish a fruitful
deliberation.
Thank you.
POSTCRIPT
Buffer Zone is soon to launch a radio broadcast edition, which will
complement and supplement security issues featured in this column with
live on-air interaction with experts and personalities knowledgeable
in the subject. Look out for updates.
