The Federal Government affirmed the commitment of the Muhammadu
Buhari administration to tackling security challenges in the
country without bias.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, stated
this on Tuesday at a special town hall meeting on security in
Katsina State.
According to him, the event is unique because it is the first
time governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be panellists at such meeting
since its commencement in 2016.
“This is first, a testimony to the fact that this Federal
Government does not play politics with the security and welfare of
citizens,” the minister said.
He added, “Secondly, (it is) a reflection of the patriotism,
commitment, and nationalism of the governors, irrespective of their
party affiliations. I congratulate all of us for being part of this
historic outing.”
No Peace, No Development
Mr Mohammed noted that the government was not unaware of the recent
criminal attacks on communities in the North-West.
According to him, cases of banditry, kidnapping and cattle
rustling seem to have worsened in the region until recently.
He reminded the meeting that one of the cardinal programmes of
the present administration was to tackle insecurity across the
country.
The minister said, “Whether it is Boko Haram, banditry,
kidnapping, cattle rustling or armed robbery, the administration
has faced the challenges posed by insecurity with grit and
determination.
“The Federal Government is unrelenting in tackling these
challenges because without peace and security, there can be no
development.”
“Here in the North-West, the security challenges – banditry,
cattle rustling, and kidnapping – have been unique and
daunting.
“The deadly attacks that claimed lives and destroyed property
were daily making headline news all over the country,” he
lamented.
Mr Mohammed decried that the situation became so bad in some of
the states in the region that many felt they were intractable.
He was, however, thankful that the efforts of the Federal
Government, as well as the determination and innovative efforts of
the governments of the affected states, have been a remarkable
improvement.
The minister said peace and security were gradually returning to
the worst-hit states while progress that has been made in combating
banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnapping.
He explained that it has become imperative for the government at
the federal and state levels to provide a platform for the
governors of the front-line states to highlight the successes they
have achieved in their various states in tackling cases of
insecurity.
Mr Mohammed was hopeful that at the end of the meeting, the
efforts of the governors of the affected states of Katsina, Sokoto,
and Zamfara, as well as the contributions of the Federal Government
would be well-documented.
Those present included Governors Aminu Masari (Katsina), Aminu
Tambuwal (Sokoto), and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), as well as the
Ministers of Defence and Interior, Major General Bashir Magashi and
Mr Rauf Aregbesola, respectively.
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