Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has called for lasting peace across the North Central region, urging stakeholders to work together to end communal and farmer-herder clashes that continue to threaten lives, livelihoods and development.
The governor said peace and security are indispensable to sustainable development, stressing the need for coordinated efforts to address the root causes of conflict while promoting agriculture, education and climate resilience across the region.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, Bago made the call while receiving the management of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), led by its Governing Board Chairman, Barrister Cosmas Akighir, at the Government House in Minna.
During the meeting, he urged the Commission to prioritise efforts to curb communal violence and insecurity, particularly recurring farmer-herder clashes, and proposed a meeting of North Central governors to develop a unified strategy for addressing the region’s security and development challenges.
He said such a meeting would provide an opportunity for state governments and the Commission to harmonise policies and strengthen collaboration in tackling the issues confronting the region.
The governor also called on the Commission to take a more proactive role in addressing the effects of climate change, citing the annual flooding caused by the overflow of four hydroelectric dams in Niger State, which has continued to devastate communities, destroy farmlands and displace residents.
According to him, the recurring destruction is one of the reasons the state is demanding a 13 per cent derivation from the Federal Government.
Bago further urged the Commission to prioritise investment in agriculture and education, describing both sectors as critical to economic growth, food security and long-term social stability.
He pledged the state’s support for the Commission by providing a liaison office and the necessary logistics to facilitate its operations in Niger State.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of the NCDC, Cyril Tsenyil, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to partnering with member states to implement sustainable development programmes across the North Central region.
He assured the governor of the Commission’s readiness to collaborate with the Niger State Government in addressing insecurity and other developmental challenges.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the NCDC Governing Board, Barrister Cosmas Akighir, said the visit was part of the Commission’s engagement with member states aimed at strengthening partnerships and identifying priority areas for intervention.
He commended Governor Bago for his achievements in agriculture, infrastructure development and governance.