Nigeria needs an immediate review of the national security architecture and strategies including the creation of State Police in order to be able to tackle the resurgence of Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (BH/ISWAP) terrorist activities in parts of the North East, killings by bandits in the North West and North Central as well as the general insecurity across the country.
The 19 Northern Governors, who met on Saturday under the auspices of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the enactment of the legal framework for the take-off of the State Police.
In a communique issued at the end of their meeting at Government House, Kaduna with the Northern Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC), the Governors commended President Bola Tinubu for his sustained commitment to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges and the infrastructural deficits in the North but acknowledged recent setbacks in efforts to combat insecurity and other social vices.
The communique, which was read by the Chairman NSGF and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, noted that after exhaustive deliberations on matters of regional interest, particularly security, the Northern Governors “resolved to liaise with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to work out modalities of how to increase support to the federal security forces.
“The forum also resolved to strengthen peculiar local initiatives in combating all forms of security challenges.
“The forum also resolved to urgently set up inter-state platforms to coordinate surveillance on our joint borders.
“The forum reiterated its support for the creation of the State Police and called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the enactment of the legal framework for its take-off.”
Speaking further on the outcome of the meeting, Governor Yahaya called for redoubled efforts in ending the killings and ensuring the safety of lives of the people, expressing condolences to the governments and people of Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, and Yobe States over the recent tragic killings.
According to Yahaya: “These mindless acts of violence against innocent citizens remind us of the urgent need to redouble our security efforts and ensure that adequate security measures are vigorously implemented for the safety of our people.
“The resurgence of Boko Haram activities in some parts of the North East and the outbreak of violent killings in the North-central call for immediate review of strategies and greater synergy between federal, state and local security architectures.”
The governor also spoke on the position taken by the forum on the tax reform bills during its last meeting, noting that, “the position we took on the tax reform bills engendered the reactions of a broad spectrum of Nigerians.
Lamenting the state of infrastructure in the North, the NSGF however commended President Tinubu for his commitment to completing the ongoing road projects in the region.
“The state of infrastructure in Northern Nigeria remains a cause for major concern. While we acknowledge President Tinubu’s commitment to completing the ongoing Kaduna-Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, and the AKK gas pipeline among many others, other projects like the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line, Kano-Maiduguri expressway, and Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu expressway, which were awarded in the past, remain in a serious state of neglect. In the same vein, no state of the North-east was captured in the federal government’s superhighway project,” he said.
Yahaya also spoke on the Almajiri phenomenon in the North and the lack of job opportunities for the youth, stating that the situation has continued to pose serious challenges to human capital development efforts.
“As the rainy season approaches, we must implement proactive measures to mitigate the perennial farmer-herder clashes and address climate-related challenges like floods and droughts,” he added.
He commended traditional rulers for their invaluable role in maintaining social harmony.
In his remarks, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Sani, said the governors made progress on many fronts but added that there were still many challenges.
He called for the development of a roadmap to address issues of security, peace, and governance in Northern Nigeria.
Sani said the NSGF and the NTRC “are unique in many respects despite our diversity; the two bodies have found a way of forging consensus on critical issues and marching forward as united platforms. This approach has solidified Northern unity and garnered national respect for the forum and the council. We must continue in this spirit.”
The Northern Governors’ meeting was attended by 14 of the 19 Northern Governors, including the Governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara); Sani (Kaduna); Yahaya (Gombe); Umar Namadi (Jigawa); Nasir Idris (Kebbi); Ahmed Fintiri (Adamawa); Kefas Agbu (Taraba); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); Mohammed Bago (Niger); Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto); Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau); Radda (Katsina); and Ahmed Ododo (Kogi).
However, the Governors of Borno, Kwara, Kano, Benue, and Bauchi States were represented.
