By Jibrin Miachi, Kaduna
Governors of North West States, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Service Chiefs and some heads of security agencies converged on Kaduna on Monday for a town hall meeting convened by the NSA, Babagana Monguno, with a view to finding lasting solution to unending security challenge aiming at tearing the country apart.
Monguno explained that the stakeholders’ consultation between the government and traditional rulers in Kaduna was basically to discuss issues of kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, armed robbery and the resultant consequences in the country.
At the meeting which took place at the Arewa House, Monguno explained that government is aiming at strengthening inter-agency coordination, stakeholders’ engagement and consultation in order to find lasting solution to the multiple security threats in the country.
The NSA said he is coordinating the whole -of -Government and Whole-of Society approach that cuts across the Legislature, Judiciary, Ministries and Departments, States and Local Governments as well as the Civil Society to ensure that every stakeholder plays a role in securing the towns and villages in the country.
Thus therefore, he said “the meeting was expected to provide direct assessment of the security situation, generate local feedback and recommendations, encourage Geo-Political synchronisation of effort among States and to also create a pathway to lasting peace and security”.
Speaking further, the NSA told his audience that “President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to bringing an end to all forms of insecurity in the country, and called for all and sundry to complement efforts of the Federal Government towards ending insecurity”.
He lamented that “a lot of lives has been lost” because according to him “there are people outside there trying to undermine efforts of government in addressing the challenges with outlaws and irresponsible people going about inflicting crisis and pains which must also end”.
“The town hall meeting, he described, is the first of its kind and commencing from Kaduna State” and said “the meeting is expected to be held across the entire geopolitical zone.”
Earlier in his remarks on behalf of the Service Chiefs, the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor said the Service Chiefs are not resting on their oars, adding that with the coming on board of the new Service Chiefs, some re-organizations are being undertaken to change the tide of insecurity in the country.
“There are reports that are not completely true while some are true, but let me say that the Federal Government is not sleeping in terms of securing the country, we are working to ensure that there is a difference. Data is being collated to enable us change the tide and working together to enhance security “.
In his speech, the Chairman of Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong and Chairman Northwest Governors forum Rt. Honourable Aminu Masari commended the initiative of the NSA for commencing the town hall security meeting from the North West region which has suffered deplorable condition of security..
In their remarks too, the emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli and Sheihk Dr Ahmad Gumi also commended the initiative of the NSA towards addressing insecurity in the country.
In attendance were the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attairu, Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Ishiaka Amao, Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo (represented), Chief of Defence Staff, Major General lucky Irabor, director general DSS represented, representative of the Inspector General of Police (IGP’), representative of the director general of the National intelligence agency.
Governors of Kaduna Nasir el-Rufai, Kebbi Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Katsina Aminu Masari, Kano Dr Umar Ganduje, Jigawa Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Sokoto Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Zamfara States were on ground for the meeting.
