FG: Boko Haram is killing North’s economy

Written by Daily Trust Thursday, 09 February 2012

Incessant shootings and bombings by Boko Haram is retarding economic development in northern Nigeria, the Federal Government said yesterday, restating willingness for talks to end nearly two years of the sect’s deadly campaign.

Information Minister Labaran Maku told newsmen in Abuja after the Federal Executive Council meeting that the recent wave of strikes in Kano was damaging to the North, Kano being the region’s economic powerhouse.

“The North is losing heavily due to the violence. When you destabilise Kano, which is the commercial nerve center of the North, you are threatening the socio-economic well-being of the North,” he said.

“Kano is the economy of Chad, it is the economy of Niger Republic, of northern Cameroon, so when you destabilise peace in Kano, you threaten the foundation of economic and social well-being of that region.”

The minister said the region deserved peace and stability as “it is lagging behind in infrastructure and economic development.”

The bombings last month in Kano left at least 185 people dead, and opened wave of further deadly attacks on police posts in the city, crippling businesses.

Banks are still to reopen in Kano, four weeks after the major strike, which was the deadliest yet claimed by Boko Haram.

“It makes no sense to attack innocent people and destroy the North,” Maku said.

Days after the Kano attacks, the sect threatened to unleash similar mayhem in Sokoto, allegedly because its followers were arrested there.

Maku said yesterday, “Sokoto is the spiritual headquarters of Islam in Nigeria and the group claims they want to attack the city. In what way does that help Islam, or progress and development of the region if that is what they are fighting for?”

President Jonathan last week said government would dialogue with Boko Haram if the sect comes out and clearly states its demands.

Maku yesterday reiterated this position, saying government was ready to enter into dialogue with the sect members if only they could show up and offer plausible reasons for their action.

On Tuesday, the NTA aired a video of purported Boko Haram men naming people through whom talks could be opened with the sect, but a man claiming to be spokesman for the group later disowned the clip saying it was crafted by security agencies.

Asked to comment on the video yesterday, Maku said, “It could be true, it could be false. It takes more than having names published or broadcast by a group to establish the veracity of these claims.”

He assured that government would continue to deploy resources and develop capacity “to contain further attacks”.

“A lot of arrests are being made, about 14 so far. The Federal Government is investing resources in intelligence and we are beginning to see results on a consistent basis.

“More security personnel are also being deployed to troubled spots and just recently, the Vice-President met with all Northern governors to forge a way on the issue,” he said.

Maku called on the Northern leaders, elders and other stakeholders to assist in bringing about a lasting peace.

Meanwhile, the minister said the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has approved the building of its multi-sectoral office in Abuja.

Maku said the Federal Executive Council received a report from Education Minister Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai on UNESCO’s decision which also elected Nigeria into its executive council for the next four years.

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