A former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Sam Ode has called on the federal government to take advantage of the Nigerian Army’s victory over Boko Haram to rebuild the North East.
He said the call became imperative especially now that the national focus had returned to agriculture for which the zone was greatly known for.
Ode, who doubles as Executive Secretary of the Peace Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Initiative (PRRI), noted that it was unfortunate that not much had been achieved in terms of rebuilding since the areas that were once held by Boko Haram insurgents.
The ex-minister averred that the defeat of terrorism would be incomplete without restoring a better version of life that had been disrupted by the terrorists.
In a statement issued on Sunday on behalf of the organization, Ode stressed that the Nigerian military’s triumph over the insurgents was a hard earned one that came at a price and concerted efforts by the federal government.
He said, “Good spirited individuals and organizations should demonstrate to Nigerians and the rest of the world that we have not abandoned the people there.
“It must be noted that defeating the terrorists without rebuilding the region would potentially create a circle of violence as poverty and illiteracy would only get worse thereby providing conditions that can again be exploited by mischief makers.
“Before the terrorists held the north east by the jugular, the geo-political zone was well known for its agriculture and livestock produce that supplied other parts of the country with some to spare for export.
“Now that the region has been liberated, the rebuilding efforts has ample room for investment in agriculture which can form the basis for an agro-industry that will provide employment and impressive returns on investment and diversification of the nation’s economy.
“The process of rebuilding also provides opportunities in construction whether in terms of investment, employment and wealth creation. The exercise would automatically open up the region to other businesses that would cater to the needs of returning populations.
“Peace Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Initiative believes that these benefits from rebuilding the northeast would take the pressure off the five other geo-political zones and would therefore calm frayed nerves as those who fled the region and even new set of Nigerians would have a thriving area to return to and therefore reduce the scramble for the scarce resources in the other areas.
“We appeal to the federal government and the states in the north-east to come up with incentives for businesses and organizations that mobilize to the area to contribute to the rebuilding efforts while special intervention packages should be developed for small and medium scale enterprises that are willing to operate there.”
The statement further urged Nigerians to note that the insurgency would not be sait to have been fully defeated if the region was not rebuilt beyond its past glory “as an economic powerhouse and its people empowered economically to contribute their quota to our country’s march to economic greatness. Healing the northeast would automatically heal the rest of Nigeria.”
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