…As S/E Governors boycott Hearing
The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has held a zonal hearing of the 10th Senate National Security Summit in Enugu, with the theme “Strengthening Nigeria’s National Security Architecture: Innovation, Collaboration and Resilience in a Changing World.” The summit aimed to gather input from stakeholders on ways to address the lingering insecurity in the country, particularly in the southeast region.
Senator Austin Akobundu, in his welcome address, lamented the worsening security situation in the country, citing the displacement of communities, abandonment of farmlands, and disruption of schools. He emphasized that violence solves nothing and that agitators in the southeast must be made to understand that self-determination cannot be achieved through violence.
Akobundu called on the government to address issues of inequity, injustice, marginalization, unemployment, and poverty that are fueling agitation for separation. He noted that the actions of non-state actors have left the southeast region bleeding, with lives lost, properties destroyed, and people displaced.
The senator also commended the efforts of the governors in the region for their determination to quell extremism and restore law and order. He appreciated the security agencies, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and the media for their efforts to end the menace in the region.
The Senate is seeking to amend and repeal existing laws and make new ones to ensure a more secure and prosperous Nigeria. Akobundu urged stakeholders to freely make inputs to the issues before the summit, saying the Senate will rely on the recommendations to turn around the fortunes of the land and people.
The summit is part of the Senate’s efforts to engage with stakeholders and find solutions to the country’s security challenges. The Senate has assured that it will continue to play its role in ensuring inter-agency collaboration among security agencies and provide adequate resources to restore peace and prosperity to the southeast region.
The event was attended by distinguished senators, governors, traditional and religious leaders, representatives of non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations, and the media.
The Senate has expressed its commitment to addressing the security challenges in the country and has called on all stakeholders to work together to achieve a more secure and prosperous Nigeria.
Meanwhile the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Uche Ugwu, emphasized the need for a united approach to address the security challenges facing the Southeast region. Speaking at a zonal hearing of the 10th Senate National Security Summit, Ugwu said the gathering was an opportunity to listen, understand, and suggest solutions to the realities on the ground.
Ugwu stressed that investing in intelligence gathering and addressing the economic conditions that make young people vulnerable to criminal activities were crucial to tackling insecurity. He also emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust between communities and security agencies, saying that when communities trust their security agencies and leaders speak with one voice, insecurity loses its strength.
The Speaker highlighted the issue of open grazing, saying it was a major concern in the Southeast and that strategies used in developed parts of the world should be adopted. He noted that Nigeria does not produce more beef than other countries, yet cattle are allowed to roam freely on roads, causing disturbances. Ugwu urged the government to take the issue seriously, saying anything related to open grazing in the Southeast is against the peace of the land.
Ugwu also called for the establishment of state police, saying it was an urgent matter that required attention. He emphasized that security cannot be achieved by force alone and that addressing the absence of trust was crucial to achieving peace. The Speaker urged the government to create an enabling environment in communities to tackle insecurity.
The Senate’s zonal hearing aimed to gather input from stakeholders on ways to address the lingering insecurity in the country. Ugwu thanked the Senate for giving the Southeast the opportunity to air its views on security, saying the region is facing heavy challenges but is united in its determination to overcome them.
Meanwhile the absence of the five governors of the region underscores how much they want the security situation in the zone resolved.
