UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
By – Sadat Dabo
The Office of the North East Regional Minister has issued a clarification following what it describes as a misleading JoyNews publication headlined, “Government will not invest in conflict-prone communities – North East Regional Minister, Ibrahim Tia warns.”
In a statement signed by the Minister’s Personal Assistant, Rashid Asinga, the Office said the headline does not accurately represent the context or intent of the Regional Minister Ibrahim Tia during his recent inspection tour of ongoing government projects across parts of the North East Region
According to the statement, the Regional Minister never said the Government would refuse to invest in conflict prone communities or deny development to areas affected by conflict.Instead, the Minister stressed that lasting peace and security are essential for sustainable development, explaining that recurring conflicts delay projects, discourage public and private investment, and put the lives of contractors and residents at risk.
The statement noted that the Minister comments were intended to encourage traditional leaders, community members and other stakeholders to work together to end conflicts so that government interventions and development projects could be implemented without disruption.
The Minister’s Office further expressed concern over interpretations suggesting that government has adopted a policy of withholding development from conflict affected communities, describing such claims as inaccurate and inconsistent with government policy.
It reaffirmed that the Government remains committed to equitable development across the North East Region, adding that several ongoing interventions by government and its development partners are specifically targeted at vulnerable and previously conflict-affected communities to promote peace, improve livelihoods and support long term stability.
The Office therefore appealed to the media and the public to consider the full context of the Minister’s remarks and avoid interpretations that could misinform the public or create unnecessary anxiety.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the Minister commitment to promoting peace, strengthening security and ensuring inclusive development across every district in the North East Region.
It ended with the message: “Without peace, development is delayed. With peace, development reaches every community.”
