Insecurity: Masari, Tambuwal, Matawalle Seek EU, UN, Others’ Assistance

In their collective bid to halt the spate of banditry,
kidnappings, and violence in the North-West geopolitical zone,
three governors from the region on Thursday met and sought the
assistance of the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN), and
some Western countries, including the United States of America, UK,
and Canada.

The meeting which held at the EU compound in Abuja had in
attendance Governors Aminu Bello Masari, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and
Bello Muhammad Matawalle of Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara State
respectively.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser
on Media and Publicity to the Sokoto state governor, Mohammed Bello
on Thursday.

The EU ambassador to Nigeria, Ketil Karlsen said the meeting
discussed the insecurity in the region, the regional dimensions of
the conflict, the influence of the Sahel conflicts and arms
proliferation.

According to Karlsen, “we all have programs already on the
ground in the North-West. We have humanitarian programs and
development cooperation. We also engage in political discussion at
federal, state levels and civil societies.

“We are very pleased to add our contribution to finding durable
solution to ending kidnappings, violence and making sure that the
social fabric, which has been broken in some places, is
reestablished; making sure that there’s access to better education
in place for all, proper social services in place, such as
healthcare as well, because all of these issues are part of finding
long term solutions,” he said.

He observed that “the main solution has always come from within-
having solid and comprehensive support from federal-level combined
with local engagement with the impacted communities is absolutely
the key.”

He also noted that the EU and its partners are already providing
support and assistance to the North-West and hope to establish more
opportunities, “because we know that this is what is needed to have
a durable solution by the end of the day.”

He added that the international community currently “have
assistance also for the National Livestock Transformation Plan
(NLTP), but pointed out that although the implementation has
started, “making sure that words are transformed into concrete
action on the ground, is vital.”

Once these are accomplished, Karlsen further added, “then the
international community can assist as we have done in the
past.”

In his remarks, Gov. Tambuwal said the high-level meeting was a
coming together of friends “to discuss, engage and get first-hand
information from those of us who are hands-on in our respective
states on this issue to know how best we can help and support the
Federal Government of Nigeria in resolving these issues.”

He emphasized that the governors “are interested in the support
that we are likely to get from them to our federal government to
solve this problem.

On his part, Gov Aminu Masari of Katsina State also corroborated
what Tambuwal had said. According to him, “we also solicited for
more support from the EU and we expect that results will come very
soon.

Also, Gov Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State also told journalists
after the meeting that he was confident that the international
community is ready to assist the three states and the region, to
end the insecurity which has bedevilled the region.

In their collective bid to halt the spate of banditry,
kidnappings, and violence in the North-West geopolitical zone,
three governors from the region on Thursday met and sought the
assistance of the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN), and
some Western countries, including the United States of America, UK,
and Canada.

The meeting which held at the EU compound in Abuja had in
attendance Governors Aminu Bello Masari, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and
Bello Muhammad Matawalle of Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara State
respectively.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser
on Media and Publicity to the Sokoto state governor, Mohammed Bello
on Thursday.

The EU ambassador to Nigeria, Ketil Karlsen said the meeting
discussed the insecurity in the region, the regional dimensions of
the conflict, the influence of the Sahel conflicts and arms
proliferation.

According to Karlsen, “we all have programs already on the
ground in the North-West. We have humanitarian programs and
development cooperation. We also engage in political discussion at
federal, state levels and civil societies.

“We are very pleased to add our contribution to finding durable
solution to ending kidnappings, violence and making sure that the
social fabric, which has been broken in some places, is
reestablished; making sure that there’s access to better education
in place for all, proper social services in place, such as
healthcare as well, because all of these issues are part of finding
long term solutions,” he said.

He observed that “the main solution has always come from within-
having solid and comprehensive support from federal-level combined
with local engagement with the impacted communities is absolutely
the key.”

He also noted that the EU and its partners are already providing
support and assistance to the North-West and hope to establish more
opportunities, “because we know that this is what is needed to have
a durable solution by the end of the day.”

He added that the international community currently “have
assistance also for the National Livestock Transformation Plan
(NLTP), but pointed out that although the implementation has
started, “making sure that words are transformed into concrete
action on the ground, is vital.”

Once these are accomplished, Karlsen further added, “then the
international community can assist as we have done in the
past.”

In his remarks, Gov. Tambuwal said the high-level meeting was a
coming together of friends “to discuss, engage and get first-hand
information from those of us who are hands-on in our respective
states on this issue to know how best we can help and support the
Federal Government of Nigeria in resolving these issues.”

He emphasized that the governors “are interested in the support
that we are likely to get from them to our federal government to
solve this problem.

On his part, Gov Aminu Masari of Katsina State also corroborated
what Tambuwal had said. According to him, “we also solicited for
more support from the EU and we expect that results will come very
soon.

Also, Gov Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State also told journalists
after the meeting that he was confident that the international
community is ready to assist the three states and the region, to
end the insecurity which has bedevilled the region.