TELL Magazine

The National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is worried about the worsening insecurity in the country. So, the Senate summoned security managers, including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Chief of Defense Staff, to appear before it on Thursday, February 8 to explain the measures being taken to curb it.

Though President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, postponed the meeting due to the absence of Ribadu, a retired police chief, who met with the Nigeria Governors Forum via Zoom February 6 on the same issue, and chief of Defense Staff, he expressed deep concern over the increasing breach of security across the country.

According to him: “The situation is worrisome in Agatu, in Taraba, Oyo, Plateau, Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi. We also heard about the infiltration (of bandits) into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in places like Kubwa and Bwari.

“We have heard reports that they have cells where they are congregating. We’ve also heard the efforts of the security chiefs and the security agencies, but reports are becoming worrisome, and we decided to invite you to brief us on the efforts to tackle this menace. The Senate is of the view that the FCT is under threat.”

Akpabio is right. Insecurity walks the nation’s Centre of Unity. Kidnappers are getting bolder and most daring daily. Victims are being abducted from their homes and kept until ransom is paid without any effective intervention from security operatives.

At their virtual meeting Ribadu, the Governors Forum, deliberated on the security situation and food stability in the country and resolved as follows:

“Recognised the need to address the connection between food inflation, naira depreciation and rising insecurity across parts of the country from a systemic perspective and called for urgent discussions with and synergy amongst stakeholders in improving the situation in the shortest possible time.

“Agreed on the following immediate actions: Reduce Foreign Exchange Demand: by use of moral suasion to reduce dependence on foreign exchange, imported goods and services. Improve Foreign Exchange Supply: by easing commodity export requirements to encourage exportation and supply of foreign exchange; Curbing illegal export of solid minerals; and increasing crude oil production to earn more foreign exchange.

“Support improved enforcement efforts: by reviewing the extant criminal justice laws in the states to ensure quick dispensation of justice on perpetrators of insecurity in the states; supporting the office of the National Security Adviser in the states to enhance the nature and quality of intelligence.

“Reiterated Governors’ commitment to deploying emergency food interventions, including incentivising food production; release of food items from strategic food reserves, and collaboration with food millers and commodity traders in their various States to boost food availability as an immediate short-term action.”

To reduce the galloping food inflation in the country, President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of 42,000 metric Tonnes of grains from the national strategic reserve to counter high cost of food items in the country.