The twentieth edition of the Joint Planning Board and National Council on Development Planning has opened in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
Secretary to the Borno State Government Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa while declaring the meeting open, tasked state and local governments to develop robust economic diversification strategy for sustainable growth and development.
The Annual meeting of Joint Planning Board and National Council on Development Planning organised by Federal ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning and state governments is aimed at fashioning out effective strategies for the formulation and implementation of National Development Plans to enhance economic growth.
Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa observed that the country is facing multifaceted challenges with devastating effect on social and economic activities.
According to him, the most daunting of these challenges is insecurity, characterized by protracted Boko Haram insurgency and other acts of criminality.
The SSG explained that the security concern occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic have adversely affected the economic growth of the country, which requires the collective effort of government, organised private sector and development partners to address.
Permanent Secretary Federal ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning Mrs Olusola Idowu who spoke virtually urged state Governors and minister of Federal Capital Territory to accord priority to poverty reduction and agricultural programmes to expand their economic base.
Representative of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Ms. Esty Sutyoko and Vice Chancellor Federal University Kashere, Gombe state Professor Umaru Pate all stressed the need for collective effort of different actors in the search for sustainable solutions to the security and economic challenges.
Borno state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning Alhaji Adamu Lawan said hosting of dignitaries across the country shows that peace has returned to the state and will boost the confidence of the private sector.
The meeting has as its theme: Managing the Nigerian Economy for Sustainable Development in a Challenging Environment.
Dauda Iliya