Kwararafa Development Forum have called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to secure the region, improve critical infrastructure and unlock its vast agricultural and mineral resources.
Speaking ahead of the gathering of sons and daughters of Kwararafa accross Nigeria, in Abuja on Friday, Prof Yakubu Ochefu, Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the Forum, identified insecurity as the most pressing challenge confronting communities across the region.
Ochefu said the security situation had continued to undermine economic activities and development in parts of Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Niger and Taraba states.
“A major issue is security, and we are going to say it when we read out the paragraph declaration. We are the food basket of Nigeria. We are the mineral deposits of Nigeria. If you look at the zone, there is no geopolitical zone in Nigeria that has the type of solid minerals that Kwararafa has.
“But we are challenged by insecurity. Our territories have been ravaged. We are talking about Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Niger and Taraba. We have had persistent security challenges for the past three years,” he said.
The Kwararafa leader also raised concerns over the poor state of infrastructure, particularly roads linking communities across the region, saying the situation had contributed to the underutilisation of its economic potential.
“The second major challenge has to do with the underutilisation of our economic assets because of poor infrastructure,” Ochefu said.
He cited the road linking Jos, Ibi, Wukari and Panteka as one of the critical routes requiring urgent government attention.
“We need the roads from Jos to Ibi to Wukari to Panteka. If you have travelled on that road in recent times, you will understand the state of the road,” he said.
Ochefu also called for faster completion of the bridge linking Taraba and Plateau states, saying improved infrastructure was essential to connecting communities and opening up the region’s economic assets.
He also urged the Federal Government to pay greater attention to what he described as equitable distribution of resources and development across the zone.
“When you are talking about the major political blocs in Nigeria, this is one of those major political blocs. How are you treating the zone in terms of equity of resources and things like that?” he asked.
The Kwararafa Development Forum, under the theme “Our Heritage, Our Unity, Our Future”, will brought together sons and daughters of Kwararafa from across Nigeria to celebrate their shared heritage and discuss issues affecting their communities.
The gathering will be held under the auspices of His Majesty, the Aku Uka, while other top government representatives will be in attendance.
The forum is expected to use the gathering to strengthen cultural ties among the various communities and articulate common concerns requiring government attention.
Ochefu further said the renewed engagement was also aimed at providing a platform through which the region could present its concerns and aspirations within the context of Nigeria’s current political and administrative structure.
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