Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has advocated a constitutional amendment that will accord more responsibilities to the traditional institution in order to stem down the rising wave of security challenges in the country.
Apparently expressing concern over the increasing wave of security challenges in the country, the governor said the security agencies should synergize more among themselves and with the traditional institutions who are closer to the people.
The Governor who spoke on Tuesday while hosting the State Council of Traditional Rulers led by Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar to a sallah homage noted that despite the huge monthly security votes, the country is being faced daily by security challenges that were hitherto strange to our socio-cultural life style and have rendered our country unsafe.
“I support that we go back to the traditional ways of securing our community, the traditional system performed better in the past and they can do better now if more constitutional powers are given to them. I recommend that we give more powers to traditional Rulers on security grounds.”
“We spend a lot of money on security but we do not have a safe environment. In Niger state, we spend huge sum of money every month on security.”
The Governor expressed dismay over the new wave of crime currently sweeping across the state adding that law and order are being violated in some local government areas of the state with attendant socio-economic implication.
He maintained that the country and the state need a lot of prayers as all efforts to combat this new wave of crime seem not to be producing the desired result.
“We need a lot of prayers in Niger state and indeed in the country. We are faced with new kind of security challenges that is unusual. There is a new wave of kidnapping, murder, armed robbery and clashes”
” In the past, nobody gets away with murder, kidnapping or crime but these days, kidnappers and criminal kingpins walk the street freely”
He however assured the people of the state that his administration is committed to making the state a safe place for everybody by continue to support the security agencies in the state.
The governor then commended the traditional rulers in the state for their tremendous support and advice adding that the state government will continue to seek their support so as for it to achieved the desired goals.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alh. (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar who spoke on behalf of the other royal fathers commended Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s administration for its effort in revamping the educational, agricultural and the health sectors of the state.
He however called on the Governor to look into the rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads across the state.
