By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA – Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, Thursday raised the alarm that Boko haram members were planning to bomb his house.
This came as governors of Yobe, Ibrahim Gaidem and Borno, Kassim Shetima also stated that the insurgents still occupied 5 local governments of the two states.
Osinbajo made the disclosure at the National Economic Council, NEC meeting with governors at the presidential villa in Abuja on Thursday.
The Vice President who decried the economic life of the north east in the midst of insurgency stated that public enlightenment needed to be carried out through radio and television create more awareness.
He also added that pressure should be mounted on the new Service Chiefs to stem the rising tide of insurgency in the country.
Meanwhile, there was no specific mention of the house and the location.
His concerns were contained in the communique issued at the end of the meeting and made available to newsmen
He said: “The Vice President regretted that the insurgency has affected the economic life of the north east and the country as a whole.
“He called for the council to speak as a team to put pressure on the Service Chiefs to increase their effort in fighting insurgency.
“There should be increase in sensitization and education channels like radio, television.
“The Vice President also disclosed that security report has it that scavengers are now being prepared by insurgents to dump refuse laden with bombs in the house of the Vice President”, the communique said.
According to the communique, “Governors of Yobe, Borno, Taraba, kaduna, Gombe, Plateau and Bauchi took turns to inform the Council of security concerns in those regions”, while “Governors of Yobe and Borno raised the alarm of five local government areas of the two States still being in possession of the insurgents”.
The governors called for increase in military deployment and provision of sophisticated military equipment in those areas, insisting that “insurgents were still hiding in the Sambisa forest”.
While lending his voice, Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola “suggested that special economic angle should be introduced in addition to military intervention to deal with Boko Haram problem.”
On Cattle rustling and banditry, NEC stated that Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai disclosed that most of the cattle rustlers were in Kumuku national part, saying that if not properly handled, it could result to another Sambisa forest.
On CBN intervention funds
Giving updates on intervention funds by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to States, NEC said it had “received a presentation from the CBN governor on the update of restructuring of bank loans for the states and payment of salary arrears.”
According to the communique, “The governor informed the council that following meetings with banks, it was agreed that existing loans should be restructured for the minimum of 20 years while salary arrears should also be restructured for the minimum of 15 years and not exceed more than 20 years.”
It added that States could opt for two options which incident “the bond option which will attract market rate; and the dent restructuring option which will attract single digit rate”
Source: Vanguard