Nigeria Committed To
Border Security And Development
Uche Aneke, Abuja
The
Nigerian government has reiterated is commitment to security and
economic development of its border areas.
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan restated the obligations while
inaugurating the Governing Board of the Border Communities
Development Agency.
He said the Nigerian government is fully committed to the
protection of basic rights of Nigerians against the backdrop of
the UN Human Rights Day.
The Vice President encouraged members of the board to ensure
that the agency is alive to its foremost responsibility of
ensuring the development and security of the nation’s border
areas.
He decried the state of development in the border communities
and enjoined the agency to ensure speedy implementation of
development projects in the areas.
According to him, ’’As a nation, we see that our border areas
are not just porous, but lack development, it is quite
embarrassing that when you go to border regions where you have
the Nigerian community close to a community from a neighbouring
country, the Nigerian community crossed to the other country's
community either to school, for medical attention or even,
sometimes, to get water.’’
He said it was time to redress the situation.
’’This has been agitating our mind for quite sometime, for us to
claim that these communities belong to Nigeria, the Nigerian
government has to assert its authority,’’ he said.
’’The only way we can do that is to ensure that basic amenities
are provided for these communities that are around our border.’’
He also enjoined the board to manage its finances judiciously.
Assurances
Speaking on behalf of the Governing Board, the Attorney General
and Minister of Justice Mike Aondoakaa pledged that the agency
would strive achieve results.
The Border Communities Development Agency, BCDA Act 2003, which
was amended in 2006, empowers the agency to execute the
development of Nigeria’s extensive border areas, spread across
21 states, in collaboration with the National Boundary
Commission.
The Team
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan is the chairman of the board
while its others members are: the Ministers of Justice, Foreign
Affairs, Transportation, Interior, Finance, Defence, Agriculture
and Water Resources as well as Health, Education, Power, Science
and Technology, Environment, Police Affairs and National
Planning.
The Inspector General of Police, the Director-General, National
Boundary Commission, the Director-General, National Intelligence
Agency, the Surveyor-General of the Federation as well as the
Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the Government
of the Federation are also members.
Representatives of Nigeria’s geo political zones in the board
are Dr. Chidia Maduekwe (South-East), Professor Dupe Olatubosun
(South-West), Engineer Joel Udoro (South-South), Alhaji Abubakar
Suleiman (North-East), Mr. Godwin Abu Edoh (North-Central),
Alhaji Bala Ka’oje (North-West) and Engineer Numopiri Wills, is
the Executive Secretary.
NAN/Qasim/Yinka
