Insecurity: Governors Want FG To Do More For Nigerians

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has urged the federal government to take more decisive steps towards solving the many security challenges facing the nation.

Chairman of the NGF, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti made the call on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen at the end of the forum’s meeting in Abuja.

He said the current security situation has attained a worrisome level and needs to be tackled immediately to avert dire consequences.

Particularly, the NGF expressed worries over the recent attacks in Imo and Ebonyi States as well as the killing of soldiers in Benue State.

Fayemi noted that the security situation in the country could have been worse but for the intervention efforts of the various governors in their respective states.

He, therefore, called for a review of the security set up in the country with a view to proferring workable and lasting solutions.

“NGF members are particularly worried following what happened in Imo state, the attacks on the correctional facility and the police command headquarters.

“The release of prisoners, and successive acts of violence and insecurity across the country, and the killings of soldiers at Benue.

“The forum has expressed its worry that it is time for us to revisit comprehensively, the nature and depth of this security crisis.

“The crisis would have gotten worse if states had not been taking the actions they have been taking individually and collectively.

“It is the steps taken at the state level that have managed to reduce the depths and the enormity of the security challenges. Nonetheless, it’s still a worrisome development for us

“We feel we will need a special review of the entire gamut of the security issues that we are dealing with.

“We need to further engage the federal authorities both at the political level and federal authorities at the security level, in order to deal with this multifaceted challenges of security that we’re faced,” he said.

Fayemi added that the governors also discussed and took positions on the economy as well as Executive Order No 10 of 2020 on the financial autonomy for the judiciary and legislature as well as other matters.

In a related development, the Northern Governors’ Forum has decried the killing of 12 army personnel in the Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.

The chairman of the forum and Plateau Governor, Simon Lalong, criticized the act in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Makut Macham, on Tuesday, in Jos.

He cited the act as capable of demoralizing security personnel from giving their best in fighting insecurity in the country, especially as the incident occurred when the soldiers were on assignment to ensure the security of lives and property.