Gumi tasks FG on underdevelopment, insecurity in North

• Leads medical mission to Fulani herdsmen in Kogi
• ‘How to curb the proliferation of weapons in Nigeria’
• 151,380 in displaced persons’ camps, says Niger SSG

Controversial Islamic scholar, Abubakar Gumi, has led a medical mission to the Rugan Zubairu Fulani settlement in the forest of Kogi State.

During a chat with reporters, Gumi lamented how former President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling All Progressives Congress administration allegedly abandoned the dream of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to dredge the Rivers Niger and Benue with a view to boosting economic activities.

Gumi was said to have embarked on the dangerous trip to show to the world that the North and its people have no reason to be poor if past and current leaders had prioritised the development of the region.

According to the cleric, if well harnessed, the Niger and Benue rivers have the capacity to create millions of jobs for Northerners, such that there would not be a need for young people, including the Fulani, to engage in crime.

His spokesman, Malam Tukur Mamu, who is also the Publisher of Desert Herald, said Gumi undertook the trip together with a fully equipped medical van, medical personnel and drugs worth N20 million.

Persons in his entourage included a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf; a retired Colonel, Sambo Diri; Malam Nasiru Ayuba; representatives of some media organisations; and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police.

The entourage reportedly travelled for an hour on the Niger River until it reached the Benue River. Thereafter, the team walked for about two hours through difficult terrains until it reached the settlement.

The mobile clinic set up by the cleric will provide medical services to herdsmen for two months.

THIS came as a civil society group, Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), blamed the non-implementation of the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) for the proliferation of weapons in the country.

CASER’s Executive Director, Frank Tietie, said the unfortunate development has allowed free importation of illegal weapons into Nigeria.

The group also faulted decision to engage MedTech Scientific Ltd and Rozi International Nigeria Ltd as new agents/partners to implement the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) scheme in breach of laid down rules and regulations.

IN another development, Kogi Budget Committee Group (BCG) has called on the Kogi State government to scale up public investment in agriculture to stem insecurity and reduce hunger.

The Committee, which made the call in a communique issued at the end of the Kogi State Budget Committee Advocacy Summit in Lokoja, yesterday, noted that agriculture has a direct impact on every facet of the nation’s economy.

The summit was organised by ActionAid Nigeria, in collaboration with its local rights partner, Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID).

MEANWHILE, activities of terrorists and bandits have reportedly forced over 151,380 persons to seek shelter at camps for the displaced in 14 local councils of Niger State in the last two years.

Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, disclosed this to journalists in Minna, the state capital.

He said some of the affected local councils are: Rafi, Shiroro, Munya, Bosso, Paikoro, Mariga, Kontagora, Magama, Mashegu, Wushishi, Rijau, Borgu, Lapai and Lavun.

He, however, added that Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s administration remains committed to protecting life and property.