President Bola Tinubu has attributed the persistent insecurity plaguing Nigeria, especially in the North-West, to inherited security compromises and historical injustices.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at a two-day security and peace summit organized by the North-West Governors Forum in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme in Katsina State, Tinubu emphasized the importance of addressing these deep-rooted issues to achieve national peace.
Reflecting on his administration’s first year in office, Tinubu reiterated his commitment to making Nigeria safer, highlighting efforts to counter banditry and insurgency.
He pointed out that the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria was aimed at mutual protection, questioning how this could be achieved if one part remained insecure.
Tinubu called for a comprehensive approach to resolving security challenges, stressing the need to rectify historical injustices, strengthen security institutions, and address economic vulnerabilities.
He noted that regional instability disrupts the entire nation, emphasizing that the security issues in the North-West are not sectional but national concerns.
He outlined measures taken, including enhanced military operations like Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Safe Haven, to dismantle insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and improve border security.
Tinubu called for unified efforts to ensure every child, traveler, trader, and farmer can live and work without fear.
Katsina State Governor and Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum, Dikko Radda, echoed these sentiments, urging a multifaceted strategy involving robust intelligence, community policing, and advanced security technologies to combat banditry.
UNDP representative Elsie Gyekyeua Atafauh praised the summit as crucial for promoting development and peace in Northern Nigeria, stating that addressing insecurity in the North-West is essential for Nigeria to maintain its status as Africa’s giant.