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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has disclosed that security reports have revealed how Boko Haram plans to use scavengers to dump refuse laden with bombs in the homes of Very Important Personalities (VIPs).
The Vice President had toured Adamawa and Borno states recently and early this month, two suicide bombers had blown themselves up outside a village in Maiduguri at the time Osinbajo was visiting the city.
Osinbajo disclosed this at a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) after governors from the North-East and North-West presented updates on insurgency and other crimes such as cattle rustling and banditry in the North-West.
Governors of Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Plateau and Bauchi states informed the Council of security concerns in those regions.
On insurgency, Governors of Yobe and Borno raised the alarm of five local government areas still being occupied by Boko Haram.
They called for increase in military deployment and provision of sophisticated equipment in those areas.
Responding, the Vice President regretted that insurgency has affected the economy of the North-East and indeed the country.
He called for the Council to speak as a a team to put pressure on the service chiefs to double efforts in fighting insurgency.
“There should be increase in sensitization and education channels like radio, television”, he said.
Osinbajo disclosed that there were security reports indicating that scavengers are now being prepared by insurgents to dump refuse laden with bombs in residences of VIPs.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, said the 59th meeting of the NEC resolved that all states should reduce cost of governance.
He said: “We do not have a uniform template on how to reduce the cost of governance, but it is very clear that states in the specific situations will find different ways and means of ensuring the cost of running governance is not as huge as it has always been.
“So it is left for the states to find different ways of cutting costs, but what is important is that we cannot continue with the kind of huge burden or huge cost of running government. A situation where you are having a huge percentage of your budget as recurrent expenditure is obviously not acceptable. And you must look for ways in reducing the cost of administration in the various states,” he said.
On cattle rustling and banditry, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, said many cattle rustlers are in Kumuku National Park and if not properly checked, could result in another Sambisa forest.
The meeting assured that security effort was being stepped up to deal with the issue.
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has disclosed that security reports have revealed how Boko Haram plans to use scavengers to dump refuse laden with bombs in the homes of Very Important Personalities (VIPs).
The Vice President had toured Adamawa and Borno states recently and early this month, two suicide bombers had blown themselves up outside a village in Maiduguri at the time Osinbajo was visiting the city.
Osinbajo disclosed this at a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) after governors from the North-East and North-West presented updates on insurgency and other crimes such as cattle rustling and banditry in the North-West.
Governors of Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Plateau and Bauchi states informed the Council of security concerns in those regions.
On insurgency, Governors of Yobe and Borno raised the alarm of five local government areas still being occupied by Boko Haram.
They called for increase in military deployment and provision of sophisticated equipment in those areas.
Responding, the Vice President regretted that insurgency has affected the economy of the North-East and indeed the country.
He called for the Council to speak as a a team to put pressure on the service chiefs to double efforts in fighting insurgency.
“There should be increase in sensitization and education channels like radio, television”, he said.
Osinbajo disclosed that there were security reports indicating that scavengers are now being prepared by insurgents to dump refuse laden with bombs in residences of VIPs.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, said the 59th meeting of the NEC resolved that all states should reduce cost of governance.
He said: “We do not have a uniform template on how to reduce the cost of governance, but it is very clear that states in the specific situations will find different ways and means of ensuring the cost of running governance is not as huge as it has always been.
“So it is left for the states to find different ways of cutting costs, but what is important is that we cannot continue with the kind of huge burden or huge cost of running government. A situation where you are having a huge percentage of your budget as recurrent expenditure is obviously not acceptable. And you must look for ways in reducing the cost of administration in the various states,” he said.
On cattle rustling and banditry, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, said many cattle rustlers are in Kumuku National Park and if not properly checked, could result in another Sambisa forest.
The meeting assured that security effort was being stepped up to deal with the issue.