Information reaching ViewPointNigeria indicates that Governor Simon Lalong is part of the 10 Northern Governors delegation currently in the US attending a symposium with senor cabinet ministers of President Barrack Obama.

Along with Governor Kasim Shettima of Borno state, Governor Lalong and the rest of the contingent held a closed door session with Secretary of State, M John Kerry and Gayle Smith, Chief administrator of USAID to discuss burning issues plaguing northern Nigeria. The meetings focused on deepening collaboration on conflict management, information sharing and humanitarian assistance – particularly as relates to the numerous killings in Northern Nigeria.

The three-day symposium which ended today was attended by governor of Plateau state (Simon Lalong), along with governors Darius Ishaku ‎of Taraba, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, AbdulAziz Yari of Zamfara, Bindo Jibrilla of Adamawa, Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi, Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger, Kashim Shettima of Borno, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto and Deputy Governor of Kano State, Professor Hafiz Abubakar who is representing Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State.

It remains unclear whether Governor Lalong brought up the issues of the perpetual attacks on communities in Plateau state by Fulani militia during the meeting, but sources at the event confirmed that Boko Haram attacks were seriously discussed and modalities of rebuilding the ravaged North East region also considered.

It will be recalled that the federal government as part of its plans to bring relief to communities affected by conflicts in Nigeria, only penned the North East region for assistance, but wholly ignore Plateau state, even though the constant fulani attacks have wiped out numerous families and destroyed sources of livelihoods.

count | 170

Governor Lalong back to the US to attend symposium with US officials