By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) said defeating terrorism in Nigeria required the collaboration of all stakeholders in the country.
Gen. Monguno said expects cooperation and contribution from all Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
In his keynote address at the National Sensitisation Workshop on the Implementation of National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) held on Monday in Uyo, he maintained that “to defeat terrorists or manage the acts of terrorism, security agencies must be ahead of the terrorists.”
Represented by Mrs. Catherine Udida, Head Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism in his office, The NSA called for collaboration from all in order to assist the country security agencies to accomplish the task.
According to him, the carnage unleashed by terrorists in the world and Nigeria in particular required concerted approach and efforts by all citizens and governments at all level to curb the menace.
“It is a fact that no one man, Agency or one country can achieve laudable success in the fight against terrorism.
“We must all work together, identifying our crucial roles and collaborate to record success,” Monguno said.
He said the NACTEST was a call for action to all MDAs, CSOs, NGOs and well meaning Nigerians to consciously take up their roles as outlined in the strategy and contribute by undertaking programmes and projects that could terrorism.
The national security adviser charged security agencies and stakeholders not to relent but always prepare and be on alert against any terrorists attack.
He called for prompt information gathering and sharing among security agencies to conquer terrorism in the country.
“The country as a whole must understand the importance of information and the essence of timeliness in doing so. Information is power and timely sharing of information is super power.” Gen. Monguno posited.
Declaring the workshop open, Akwa Ibom state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel said that terrorism has affected everyone beyond boundaries and require collaborative efforts.
Emmanuel, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Moses Ekpo, called for intelligence sharing among all security agencies to tackle terrorism the country.
He advised all security agencies to constantly update their skills to meet global standard as terrorism was a global phenomenon.
The governor urged the security agencies to be careful in collating of information, adding that false information could lead to chaos.
In his goodwill message, the Speaker Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke, commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort in fighting insurgency in the North East and efforts in ensuring peace in the Niger Delta region through negotiations.
“I use this opportunity to call on those who have the opportunity to make contributions to the fight not to sabotage the president’s effort,” Luke said.
Goodwill messages were received from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Navy and other security organisations.
