Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on North East (PINE), Gen Theophilus Danjuma, has said the committee will be crystal clear in its operation so as to avoid allegations of corruption like that of the arms deal scandal.

The retired General stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, at the opening of a two day security seminar put together by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College.

Danjuma stated that for the states torn by Boko Haram insurgency, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, the Federal government will spend at least N2 trillion as a short term intervention to revitalize the states.

“This task, we must discharge transparently and accountably so that our country is not embarrassed by fresh allegations of corruption in the management of the North East reconstruction,” he said.

Noting that the rebuilding of the affected areas is an enormous task that require strong and well coordinated plans, Gen. Danjuma, however, stated that the proposed N2 trillion cannot solve all the problems in the region if stakeholders within and outside the region do not cooperate.

He further said that the funds should be closely monitored to avoid mismanagement and misappropriation of funds.

“Conservative estimates put the cost of the short-term intervention of the reconstruction of the region at over N2 trillion.

“Rebuilding the North East is one of the biggest and most complex challenges that Nigeria is facing today. To hold government or any one agency alone responsible for this task is to underestimate the enormity of the problem.”

“The task would involve massive reconstruction of physical infrastructure, much of which have been totally destroyed and, of course, the more challenging one, which is the rebuilding of peace and social cohesion.”