The Borno State government says it will not restore telephone network in the state until it is sure of a stable and conducive environment.

The deputy governor of the state, Zanna Umar Mustapha, while receiving members of the Senate joint committee on defence, police, army and national security, said what is paramount to the government and people now is the restoration of peace and not the GSM networks.

“It is not the unilateral decision of the military not to restore the networks but with the support of the state government,” Mustaphasaid.

He commended the visiting team and security agents in the state for their concern and spirit of nationalism in finding ways to curb the security challenges of the state.

The deputy governor also acknowledged the contributions made by the youth vigilante group, otherwise known as the civilian JTF, whose actions helped fish out terrorists and their sponsors from their hideouts, in and around the state.

Earlier the chairman of the committee, George Sekibo, said they were in the state to access the security situation, meet with security agencies and stakeholders with a view to reviewing the security challenges.

The committee later engaged the deputy governor in a closed door meeting after which they also met with the Joint Task Force, JTF, for briefing before they paid a visit on the Shehu of Borno.

Incidentally, as the government said it would not restore telecom services for now, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Nicholas Okoh, expressed worry over the delay inn bringing back the GSM networks.

Okoh, who led a team of 14 other archbishops of the church to the deputy governor’s office, said they were in the state on a solidarity visit to sympathize and share difficulties with the people.

“We were disturbed when we find it very difficult to communicate with the good people of Borno state, therefore we decided to pay this visit to enable us interact, sympathize and offer condolences to those who lost their relation during the crisis,” he told the deputy governor.

He offered special prayers for permanent return of peace to the state, and urged all stakeholders to continue to work towards sustaining the peace in the region