Aliyu Blames Slow Development Of The North On Insecurity

Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger State on Wednesday said the security threat by the Boko Haram group in the northern part of the country had stalled development in the region.

Aliyu made the remark during an interactive session with journalists at his residence in Minna.

He said that insecurity caused by the sect in the North had made it difficult for investors to invest in the region for fear of losing their investments.

“I am not satisfied with the slow pace of development in the northern region, but under my leadership as chairman of Northern Governors' Forum, we have given the region good leadership.

“Because of the kind of unity, solid decision and encouragement that we have done, if not for security situation that intervened, we will have been what we call a paradise.

“In terms of progress, I am not satisfied with the situation the North is now, because of insecurity slowing down economic activities to the extent that when you invite investors, they are afraid to invest their money for fear of losing their investments,’’ he said.

He said that the development of any state in the North depended on how the governor implemented the decisions of the Northern Governors Forum.

“I can only implement the decisions in Niger state and not in other states,’’ he said.

Aliyu, however, said the slow economic activities was not peculiar to the region alone but the country at large as the activities of the group had given the country a negative image abroad.

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