Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, has said a collaborative approach by all sectors of the Nigerian population is urgently needed to successfully tackle and overcome security challenges in the
country.
The Governor said the cooperation of all security agencies, traditional rulers, community and religious leaders and all citizens is imperative to overcome insecurity and all forms of criminality.
He disclosed that he has been in constant touch with his counterparts
in the neighbouring states of Ondo, Osun, Kogi and Kwara to secure
boundary towns and villages which might be used by criminal elements to gain access to the state.
Fayemi disclosed this at the opening ceremony of a three-day Federal
and States’ Security Administrators’ Meeting (FSSAM) held at the
Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi,
Fayemi warned that the current security challenges in the country should not be politicized but must be frontally tackled in synergy with all stakeholders.
He noted that the appropriateness and timing of the meeting cannot be
overemphasized as it came at a time the country is facing various security challenges.
Fayemi stressed that security of lives and property is crucial to socio-economic development which explained why his administration has taken proactive measures to curtail emerging security challenges.
Some of the measures, according to him, include, donation of two units of Armoured Personnel Carrier vehicles to the State Police Command, monthly financial assistance to the security agencies in the state and regular meeting of the State Security Council.
Others are inclusion of the informal security outfits in the security
architecture of the state, enlistment of the support of traditional rulers in the maintenance of lives and property in their domains, security awareness campaign on the electronic media.
The rest are establishment of the State Security Trust Fund to enable
sustainable funding of crime prevention interventions, creation of an anti-crime outfit code named ‘Operation Keep Ekiti Safe,’ resuscitation of Peace Corps and resuscitation of the Security
Tracking System jettisoned by the immediate past administration.
Fayemi said: “The current security challenges in the country should
not be politicized as the proliferation and possession of unlawful firearms call for increased security measures.
“And with what we are seeing now, it has become imperative to seek the
cooperation of all security agencies, community and traditional leaders and other stakeholders for a safe and secure business climate
“We are quite aware that there might be incursion of criminals from outside the state. Therefore, I have started contacting me counterparts in the neighbouring states with a view to synergizing for more protection of lives and property along the boundary towns and villages.”
The Governor added that hosting of the meeting was a demonstration of
his administration’s interest in the security of the people expressing
the belief that decisions reached would enrich the business of maintenance of law and order in the country.
Speaking earlier, FSSAM Chairman, Dr. Amina Shamaki, commended the
Ekiti State government for hosting the parley aimed at developing workable solutions to security problems confronting the country.
Mrs. Shamaki who is also the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the Federal Government is concerned about the security challenges in some parts of the country and working hard to tackle them.
According to her, government is concerned about the incessant
farmers-herders clashes saying part of the strategies to find solution
is the engagement of all stakeholders.
Mrs. Shamaki urged Nigerians not to be oblivious of the predictions of
the Nigerian Meteorology Agency (NIMET) on the pattern of rainfall
because of its implication on security.
The meeting which ends on Saturday is being attended by officers the
Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Prisons Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, among others.
