By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Wakil has urged Nigerians not use the insecurity in the North east as a yardstick of his performance in the region, insisting that the federal government had tried its best for the area in spite of the challenge of insurgency.
Wakil, who is also the coordinator of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation in Borno State, stated this during the launch of the committee for the re- election of President Goodluck Jonathan in Maiduguri on Sunday.

The minister insisted that Jonathan has been fair to the northern region, including the North east, adding that the North had had a fair share of federal appointments and developmental projects.

” Mr President has accorded the North sufficient respect in the governance of this nation. We are not deprived of our rights in whatever ways. As at today, northerners occupy sensitive positions in the administration. The President trusts us and I believe we should trust him by voting massively for his re- election”, Wakil urged.

Citing the power sector as an area to which the Jonathan administration had given attention in the region, he listed projects ececuted so far to include the Maiduguri 330/132kV substation ; 33 kva transformer for Maiduguri; new transformer for old Baga station; Gombe – Yola 330kV single circuit Transmission Line.

They also include the Yola – Jalingo 330kV Single Circuit Transmission Line;Gombe -Damaturu – Maiduguri 330kV Single Circuit Transmission Line; Line Bay Extension at Gombe, Yola and Damaturu ;132/33/11 kV, 60MVA Substation at Jalingo.

Other projects listed by him include Reinforcement of old Maiduguri substation with 1x60MVATransformer;Completion of 40MVA Kashimbilla  Hydropower  project;nConstruted and Completed 1x30MVA Substations at Mayo Belwa, Mubi, and Gombi in Adamawa State;Connection of Gombe State University Kashere to 33kv line; Construction of 30MW Dandinkowa Hydropower Plant in Gombe State on Concession; Connection of major towns and  villages to the National Grid under the Federal Government National Rural Electrification  Programme.

Speaking on the insurgency ravaging the North east, Wakil said the federal government was retooling the military and other security agencies and rallying international support for the war against terrorists and expressed confidence that they will soon be defeated.

The minister pointed out that President Jonathan had set up several initiatives to help cushion the impact of the insurgency on the people, including the Victim Support Fund, the presidential committee on distribution of relief materials and the Presidential initiative on North East.