Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has complained that the Federal Government has not adequately compensated Gombe State after converting its NYSC Orientation Camp to a deradicalization camp for repentant Boko-Haram insurgents.
The Governor, who spoke through the Secretary to the Gombe State Government (SSG), Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, explained the State’s position when an administrative assessment team on Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) from the Defence Headquarters Abuja, paid a courtesy call on the Governor.
Professor Njodi stated that even though the State Government had been fully supporting the deradicalization programme, which is a national assignment, it felt suchanged when only about N1.4b was given to the State Government as compensation.
The deradicalization camp in Malam-Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area has been in operation for over six years.
According to the SSG, the State Government thought it was going to be compensated adequately with the current worth of the facility, but felt disappointed and suchanged.
He explained that the State Government has already earmarked over N5 billion for the establishment of a new Orientation Camp adding that it was forced to temporarily move students from Amada Girls Secondary School, where the NYSC is temporarily sited now, to join other students at Government Girls Secondary School Doma.
He expressed the State Government’s appreciation for the visit and the interest shown by Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) in the activities of the camp.
Earlier, leader of the team Rear Admiral Suleiman H Abdullahi, accompanied by the Coordinator of OPSC, Maj Gen Yusuf Ali and other officers, explained that they were on an administrative assessment visit to some of its operations which include the deradicalization camp in Gombe.
He described the deradicalization operation in Gombe as a very unique one adding that the the team will interact with stakeholders, particularly with the host community to have their views about what they are doing.
The team also intended to assess the readiness and responsiveness of of the facility while calling for partnership from the State Government and the host community for the success of the operations.
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