By Yusuf Adamu
Every government, at whichever level of governance, be it federal, state or local government, is expected to protect the lives and properties of its citizens, and Borno State, as a tier if government is not 3xcluded from carrying out this constitutional responsibility and duty.
Recently, the governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, issued a matching order prohibiting scavenging activities in the state due to various reasons, prominent among which was scavenging makes scavengers volatile to attacks from insurgents.
This decision by the state government has attracted criticism from different sections of the populace. However, it is key and of utmost importance to enlightened the populace.
Before proceeding, it is pertinent to note that the maxim: ‘Safety First, No Matter What’ is very apt in this very instance.”
The questions we should be asking are: what is the fraction of those involved in such businesses in the state? What is their contributions to the state purse, among others?
Scavenging is a form of business that the stakeholders involved in the value chain don’t subject the items brought by scavengers to due process. They mostly steals properties of individuals and vandalise government properties all in the name of scavenging, just for the sake of making quick money! Can we say they are professionals?
The government of the state that had done so well in creating employment, supporting existing businesses by disbursing micro credits worth millions of naira, engaging in youth skills training facilitated by the various skills acquisition centres at various local governments deserves commendation and appreciation. We should therefore, rather than condemn or criticism the government, appreciate it and encourage it to do more.
As for the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, agreed they are volunteers, but the government has incorporated them with their own structures into the system and monthly payment as salary and other palliatives are given to them, just like other workers in the state public service.
Furthermore, in a bid to support employment, the government has supported agric farming by distributing farming inputs. More so, Toyota cars and tricycles had been distributed at all levels so as to create employment for the teaming youths. Is the government not gradually fulfilling its responsibilities, despite in a volatile environs and limited resources? It is pertinent to remind ourselves that motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, was banned within the metropolis on security grounds, despite their number, but those involved have readjusted and move on. So why then is this ban on scavengers facing condemnation, especially from religious leaders.
Religious leaders are key to the success of every government due to their large followers, because what ever they say spreads like wildlife and if its not well said, it could become hate speech and incite crisis against the state and that is why they are been regulated. It is key that they channel their views on government policies in a well coordinated manner and platform to the appropriate quarters, which is already in place, because the state is still trying to recover from the insurgency.
My candid advice is that religious leaders should retrace their footsteps and work towards ensuring proper impacting of knowledge, instilling morals and discipline in their subjects in order to create a better Borno State.
•Hon. Adamu writes from Maiduguri, Borno State
