The senate has announced plans to hold consultations across the six geo-political zones as part of efforts to tackle the worsening insecurity across the country.
Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader and chairman of the ad hoc
committee on the national security summit, announced the plan during the
committee’s inaugural meeting at the national assembly complex in Abuja.
Bamidele said the consultations would involve key
stakeholders and victims of armed violence to identify the root causes of
insecurity and design actionable solutions.
“No amount of money invested in infrastructure development
will translate to any meaningful outcome without peace and security,” he said.
“For this reason, transforming pervasive insecurity to
enduring peace is at the heart of the national security summit.”
The committee, which has 20 members, was constituted by the
senate amid rising concerns over the safety of lives and property nationwide.
Members of the committee include Tahir Monguno, chief whip
of the senate; Abba Moro, minority leader; Osita Ngwu, minority whip; Adams
Oshiomhole, chair of the interior committee; Ahmad Malam-Madori, chair of the
police affairs committee; Gbenga Daniel, chair of the navy committee; Ahmed
Lawan, chair of the defence committee; and Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, chair of the
army committee.
Bamidele said the summit would involve traditional rulers,
security agencies, civil society groups, the media, and citizens with credible
ideas on peacebuilding.
“We will interact with our people on the ground, listen to
their fears and apprehensions and garner their suggestions on how to transform
insecurity into effective order,” he said.
The senate leader noted that Nigeria can only achieve
development and prosperity when peace and unity are guaranteed.
“In the past, the activities of insurgents and bandits were
restricted to the north-east and north-west with a few states attacked in the
north-central,” he said.
“Today, however, Kwara is negatively affected. The story of
Benue is getting worse by the day.”
He cited increasing cases of ritual killings in the
south-west, kidnapping and separatist violence in the south-east, and oil theft
and piracy in the south-south.
“All these issues constitute economic sabotage to our
fatherland,” Bamidele said.
He added that the committee would work round the clock to
recommend far-reaching measures to restore peace and security nationwide.
On May 6, the senate resolved to hold a two-day national
security summit to discuss solutions to the rising insecurity in the country.
The decision followed a motion sponsored by Jimoh Ibrahim,
senator representing Ondo south.
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