BEVERLY HILLS, October 26, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the worst impact of the insurgents, Boko Haram, in Nigeria is already over as he inaugurated the Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative (PCNI), chaired by Gen. Thiophilus Danjuma (Rtd.) at the State House, Abuja.
The President declared that the successes recorded against Boko Haram were mainly achieved through the patriotic efforts of the Nigeria’s armed forces adding that the Government is committed to providing effective coordination and guidance towards addressing the humanitarian crisis, the resettlement and reconstruction of the North East region.
This, he said is the reason why his government established the PCNI to be chaired by Danjuma (Rtd), GCON, whom he noted is a man of proven integrity, outstanding patriotism and dedication.
“Fortunately, the worst of the insurgency is behind us. This we owe principally to the valiant efforts of our military whose gallant efforts have significantly degraded the insurgency,” the President said.
“With these successes, many displaced persons are willing and ready to return home to pick up their lives and move forward. Sadly many of the displaced persons do not have anything to return to.
“They have lost everything to the insurgency. In addition, social and public services are also absent due to the massive destruction of public and private infrastructure.
“Danjuma will lead this Committee comprising members who have been carefully chosen from a wide spectrum of stakeholders. The Committee will be the apex coordinating body for all interventions in the region including those by the public, private, national and international development partners.
“The Committee is domiciled in the Presidency and is charged with responsibility for developing the strategy and implementation framework for rebuilding the North East region.
“The PCNI would not exist in perpetuity or isolation. Rather, it will exist for a period of 3 years, where after it is envisaged that a long-term regional development framework or entity may be established.
“The PCNI will for now be funded through Federal, State and Local Government appropriation, and funds from the private sector and international development partners.
“I also call on all stakeholders to give the PCNI their maximum support to enable it to deliver on its mandate.” He added
Gen. Danjuma, while thanking the President for the opportunity disclosed that all the N50 billion pledged for the intervention in the North East have not been redeemed as he urged those still owing to pay up stressing that the committee is not ready to embarrass anybody even though it has the names of those that pledged.
“Mr. President, your assessment of the dire situation in the north east justifies your prescription of the remedy in establishing the PCNI. Rebuilding the north east will be resource intensive and cannot be done overnight but it is a task that must be done in the overall interest of our nation,” he said.
“We acknowledge the contributions from various sources, particularly during the fund raising for the victims support funds for the north east.
“However, from this fund raising only half of the pledges that were made have been redeemed. I therefore call on everyone to key into the strategic coordination framework of the PCNI: the Buhari plan and make contributions to its implementation because every key is a stakeholder.
“It is therefore expected that all interventions, especially the federal ministries, departments and agencies, the state government, NGOs, international partners, the private sector and individuals will align their contributions to the aspirations to the aspiration of the Buhari Plan.”
Story by Oputah David
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