By; FUNMI OROYE ADERINTO, Kaduna
Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo, on Wednesday, said that the security architecture and infrastructure of any nation cannot be strong without the commitment of the people in fighting against criminality in the country.
Yemi Osibanjo who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Obafemi Odudu stated this at the Northern States Stakeholders Security Summit, with the themed “Nation building: Security Challenges and the need for Inclusive Approach”, held in Kaduna.
According to the Vice President, it is a collective effort for Nigerian to find a lasting solution to the insecurity bedeviling the nation.
He expressed that, it is our responsibility to protecting lives and properties of all Nigerians.
He further advised that the issue of security should not be left to the police alone, security must be everybody business and all options should be exploited.
He urged all Nigerians to always assist the police in fighting social ills by giving useful information to the police to fight against crime.
He further said, the community in the proactive and systematic examination of identified problems in the command to develop and evaluate the most effective responses to such problems.
He urge Nigerian to stand strong with the police which is requires in the fight against insurgency in the country.
He noted that, security architecture and infrastructure of any nation cannot be strong without the people, the people are the main reason why the architecture is reliable and dependable, he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman Northern Governors Forum, Kashim Shettima who was represented by the Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar in his remarks, stressed the need to turn towards community policing which according to him is essential in filling the gab.
He said, the security of lives and properties in the country should be the priority of individuals and this should not be left for only police. Hence the need to give useful information to the police to collectively tackle the issues of insecurity in the country.
Earlier, the Kaduna State Deputy Governor Barnabas Bala Bantex stressed the need to engage youths and enhance security agents to protect the state and the verse region for improved capacity.
He said, the lost of lives and properties through setting human being ablaze is scarring for development of the state.
He stressed that, we must all ensured that we make peace to reign in our communities, the religion and community leaders should consciously enhance the capacity to protect citizens of the state.
He further said, Kaduna state government will make effort to ensure that it sustained the peace the state is enjoying and encourage investment into the state by fighting against insecurity in the state.
He maintained that, we must direct our attention to study on how to avoid violence and conflicts in the country.
He added that, this is the time to come together and embrace peace.
For effective policy in the country, the Nigerian Police required over 560 billion Naira annually, this was disclosed by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun, while addressing the participants at Northern States Stakeholders Security Summit held on Wednesday.
According to him, the current funds being release was not sufficient to transformed the police to international best practice in the country. Hence the need to increase the funds to that amount.
He said, their efforts in making Nigeria safe and more secure for economic development and growth and create a safe and secured environment for everyone living in Nigeria.
He urged Nigerians to report any situation of challenges, together we are to build the nation, he said.
Variously, traditional rulers at the summit harped on the need for traditional council to be included in the fight against crime most especially from the grassroot noting the need for proper land administration policy to reviewed to address cattle herder conflict in the country.
They said the security agents alone cannot succeed in the fight against insecurity unless the traditional rulers are involved.
Paper presentation at the summit includes managing farmers herder conflict for law and order in Nigerians Northern states, increased police funding for effective performance and enhanced service delivery, National security, good governance, nation building and overview of Northern Nigeria security situation, historical perspective.
