Nasarawa State governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has appealed to citizens across the country to view security, peace and harmonious coexistence, as a collective responsibility and not something to be left only to security agencies.
Engineer Sule made the appeal while flagging-off the state inter-ministerial implementation Committee on community safety and human security, at the Government House, on Tuesday.
While pointing out that Nigeria is presently contending with security challenges such as kidnapping, banditry, conflict between farmers and herdsmen, robberies among others, the governor, tasked Nigerians on the need to, individually and collectively, take matters of security serious and strive to continuously evolve measures until the war against insecurity is won.
Engineer Sule described the community safety and human security programme, as a collective mechanism put in place in order to provide a platform for all tiers of government and relevant stakeholders, to work towards mobilising grassroots intelligence, for the country’s security management system to achieve safe, secured and united Nigeria.
The governor also said the flag-off and inauguration of the state committee will no doubt complement the community policing initiative of the Nigeria Police.
Engineer Sule said Nasarawa State has also been having its share of the security challenges, mostly in the areas of conflict between farmers and herdsmen, as well as communal clashes.
“Let me reiterate that security and harmonious coexistence, are collective responsibility for all. We must endeavour to come together, to fight crime and criminality in our society for the good of all,” he stated.
He further called on Nigerians, to support and encourage efforts by security agencies, towards securing the country for socioeconomic activities to thrive.
To this end, the governor said the state government, initiated the community based conflict resolution mechanism, where aggrieved parties are encouraged to come together to resolve differences, committees established at various levels, including state, LGA, district and village levels, giving rise to enhanced, sustainable peace across the state.
He listed the recent parley among ethic groups from Toto Local Government Area, where the Bassa and Egbira ethnic groups, were brought together, with a view to resolving the two-decade long misunderstanding between them.
Engineer Sule equally cited the Nasarawa State Youth Empowerment Scheme (NAYES), which though not a security outfit, has continued to serve as a tool towards community policing, as well as complementing the role of conventional security agencies in the state.
He added that government will continue to strengthen the NAYES, vigilante groups and sustain its logistics support to the security agencies, towards enhancing peace and maintenance of law and order in the society.
This is just as the governor noted that with Nasarawa State selected to be the pilot state for the National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP), the prolonged conflicts between farmers and herdsmen, will soon be resolved.
Earlier, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator (Dr.) George Akume, in a keynote address, said the Federal Government, has adopted a paradigm shift in its approach to national security.
According to the minister, the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, places emphasis on the people and not the state, aimed at enhancing the social wellbeing of the citizens.
“Community safety and human security links to the human development approach, which is about expanding the richness of human life, rather than simply the richness of the economy,” Senator Akume said.
To this end, the minister said the implementation committee on community safety and human security programme, is prepared to work with relevant security institutions, stakeholders and in-state actors, in expanding the narrative and intelligence for community safety.
