* Don’t underestimate enormous N2 trillion infrastructure reconstruction and,
* More challenging emotional rebuilding of peace and social cohesion
Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, Chairman, Presidential Initiative on North East (PINE), Wednesday said his committee would work transparently in order to avoid allegation of corruption as has been the case with the arms deal scandal.
Danjuma spoke at the opening of a two-day security seminar organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College, in Abuja.
Danjuma said for the war-ravaged North East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa to bounce back, federal government must spend at least N2 trillion as a short term intervention.
He said, “This task, we must discharge transparently and accountably so that our country is not embarrassed by fresh allegations of corruption in the management of the North East reconstruction.”
He said such quantum of fund would be closely monitored and managed so as to avoid embarrassing allegations of fraudulent diversion.
Danjuma however said that the N2 trillion cannot on its own solve the problem without the cooperation of all stakeholders within and outside the country.
He said even though the task to rebuild the states is achievable, the job is still enormous, as it would require concerted plans and strategy.
According to the elder statesman, “Conservative estimates put the cost of the short-term intervention of the reconstruction of the region at over N2 trillion.
“Rebuilding the North East is one of the biggest and most complex challenges that Nigeria is facing today. To hold government or any one agency alone responsible for this task is to underestimate the enormity of the problem.
“The task would involve massive reconstruction of physical infrastructure, much of which have been totally destroyed and, of course, the more challenging one, which is the rebuilding of peace and social cohesion.”
He said friends of Nigeria and Nigerians must “support the initiative of the Federal Government to rebuild the region.”
He gave assurance that the various platforms established by government for the reconstruction of the region would be carefully managed to check embezzlement of resources.
-Leadership