I want to start by saying safe trip, Mr President. Indeed, It was a joyous moment in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital,, as thousands of people came out en masse from the nooks and crannies of the state to welcome you. Once again, thanks so much for the reconsideration, Mr President.
The kind of love, support and good work you have been doing for Borno people and Nigerians in general no scale can actually measure especially in the area of insecurity. As such, there is peace now in Borno state compared to those days which I describe as carnage era in my write up.
Mr President, the various projects commissioned during your visit will indeed play a very significant role in the life of Borno state people as well as cushion the hardship of the internally Displayed Persons (IDPs) in the state, especially those affected by the Boko Haram insurgents; thus there is need to live a normal life like everyone else.
From inception of your government to date, Borno state has witnessed tremendous projects including housing, education, economy, health, agriculture, among other infrastructure; today you commissioned 10,000 houses in Borno, among other important projects. This is the first in the history of Nigeria whereby government of the day executed such a gigantic project.
Before you came on board, Mr President, farming stopped completely in the state, no one goes to farm in fear of the insurgents. This has resulted to rapid hike in the prices of commodities in the state and Nigeria at large because Borno is among the states producing grains in the country. Consequently, many people can’t afford three square meals a day, contributing in the recruitment of many youths by the insurgents.
Continuously, the damage in the education sector has brought about increase in the number of out of school children in Borno state, and as a result, many children took to street begging, hawking, among other child abuse. Similarly, same children are being recruited by the insurgents to perpetrate thier evil acts.
Considering the kind of intervention you are giving to Borno state and Nigeria at large, we will never relent in praying for the nation and you in particular to be hale and hearty. Mr President sir, at this juncture, I want to say that your administration is the best ever in the history of our great nation be it in terms of peace, security, unity, tolerance, and human development.
On this basis, we appeal to you, Mr President, to improve more on the security situation of the state, as doing so will provide an enabling environment for both government and the governed to contribute to nation building. Finally, we are saying a very good thank you, Mr President.
Ukasha Rabiu Magama, Department of Mass Communication,University of Maiduguri
