Gombe State’s Governor Muhammadu Yahaya has accused the Federal Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for underpaying in compensation for taking over the erstwhile orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to host repentant terrorists.
Located in Kwami, Malam Sidi, the Operation Safe Corridor programme is operated by the Defence Headquarters as a facility for the de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members.
The facility was built for the usual three-week orientation course of corps members posted to the state.
The Secretary to the Government of Gombe State, Prof Ibrahim Njodi, conveyed the Governor’s misgivings while receiving a delegation of senior military officers from the Defence Headquarters on Tuesday.
According to Yahaya, the state had been compelled to begin constructing of a new orientation camp in the Boltongo district after the takeover of the NYSC facility.
Yahaya said, “The Federal Government paid us only N1.4 billion in compensation, yet we have already spent over N5 billion to put up a new NYSC orientation camp. That is almost three times the amount we were given.”
He explained that despite initial scepticism among residents of the host community, the government’s collaboration with security agencies has helped build confidence.
“Through constant engagement and well-mapped strategies, we have been able to allay the fears of our citizens, especially in Malam Sidi, where the programme is hosted,” he said.
While reiterating his administration’s support for the success of Operation Safe Corridor, Yahaya assured the Armed Forces that Gombe would continue to partner with security agencies in the de-radicalisation and reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members.
Earlier, the leader of the visiting delegation, Rear Admiral Suleiman Haruna Abdullahi, said the team was in the state for an administrative assessment of Operation Safe Corridor.
Abdullahi promised that the delegation’s findings would be transmitted to the Defence Headquarters.
