The Adamawa and Zamfara state governments have expelled all Non-Governmental Organisations operating in their states. Governor Fintiri of Adamawa state, who addressed a press briefing at Government House in Yola on Tuesday afternoon, said the suspension was to avoid vote buying associated with NGOs.
“It has become evident that most NGOs are dabbling into politics in the name of providing humanitarian assistance to the people. Government can’t fold its arms and watch such so-called NGOs mislead the people and inject divisive tendencies into their psyche.”.
“In view of the foregoing and in furtherance of our desire to reorder the electoral behavior of our people and remove the influence of the NGOs who have reduced the statutory mandate to that one of vote buying machine, the government has decided to suspend their activities, “ he said
The Zamfara state also last week ordered all non-governmental organisations in the state to pack their belongings and leave the state immediately. The government ordered security agencies in the state to investigate and prosecute any NGO still operating in the state in defiance of the directive.
The Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, Mamman Tsafe, in a statement last week stated “It is further noted that the majority of these illegal NGOs have not registered with the state in line with the laid down rules and regulations of the government. Some of them have also been found to be engaging in activities fueling insecurity in the state and its neighbourhood.
“Henceforth, the government orders all NGOs in the state to pack their belongings and leave the state immediately. Ministries and Departments of government have been ordered to stop any further relationships with any NGO, as punitive measures will be taken against any MDAs found having any relationships with such NGOs.”
The state government directed security agencies in the state to be vigilant of the NGOs.
“Security agencies are hereby directed to investigate and prosecute any NGOs operating in the state without due clearance from designated authorities. Results of such prosecutions are to be forwarded to this Ministry for records please.”
