The Executive Secretary of Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), Dr. George D. A. Kelly, FNIQS has pledged to accelerate developmental projects in border communities in Nigeria to avoid their reliance on neighbouring countries for basic amenities that should be provided by the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This he stated, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo on Tuesday, 7th May, 2024.
Dr. Kelly maintained that government presence has to be felt in the border communities, as substantial number of them fall under ungoverned spaces, and this, he believes, would tackle insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping. The Executive Secretary said, though the country have border control posts, we must also acknowledge that there are a lot of ungoverned spaces that are inlets for banditry and insurgency. He added that the presence of government must not only be felt at the border communities alone, but also at the ungoverned spaces.
He stated that our core mandate is to provide basic amenities, security, and social-economic welfare for the border community dwellers, but most of these communities do not have the needed basic amenities such as health centres, schools, and good drinking water due to neglect in the past. These have led them to depend on communities in neighbouring countries for same amenities that ought to have been provided by Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary further stated that he does not see himself as a Nigerian of Rivers State extraction, but an ambassador of border communities in the country. He promised that the Agency will do its best to give the needed succour to alleviate the plight of the border communities.
In his response, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, asserted that he believes in the capabilities of Dr. Kelly, as evident in the right steps he has taken in a short timeframe of being at the helm of affairs in BCDA.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo pledged the support of the Federal Ministry of Interior towards achieving the vision and mandate of Border Communities Development Agency under the leadership of Dr. Kelly.
The Minister said, he has seen somebody who understands the mandate of the Agency. He also stated that, because of his passion for the Agency, he had added his voice to the development of the border communities in different fora.
Finally, the Minister emphasized that BCDA is one of the most important Agencies because of the role it plays in the country, and that the mandate of BCDA cannot be politized as doing so will put millions of Nigerians at risk.
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