• PDP governors okay state police
Governors and National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu yesterday resolved to join forces to tackle insecurity and the lingering food crisis.
They agreed to beef up security nationwide.
During his meeting with the governors, the NSA hinted about plans by the Federal Government to raise a committee on police reform.
Also yesterday, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors supported state police, saying the security challenges have made its establishment more compelling.
Despite the Federal Government’s commitment and efforts by security agencies to tackle insecurity, Nigeria has continued to grapple with terrorism, banditry, kidnappings and killings.
Also, the rising cost of food has sparked protests in some states, including Niger and Kano, where placard-carrying protesters appealed to President Bola Tinubu to find a lasting solution.
Ribadu, who held a virtual meeting with the governors, briefed them about steps taken by the Federal Government to combat the security challenge.
The session also focused on how the states can collaborate with President Tinubu to check the food crisis.
Sources said the NSA’s session with the governors was held online to save cost and enable the stakeholders to immediately activate an ‘Action Plan’ in each state.
A source said Ribadu spent quality time reviewing the security status of each state, how emerging problems were being addressed and what should be done by governors.
According to the source, the NSA pleaded with the governors to buy into the nation’s security architecture.
Although Ribadu observed that about two states had been slacking, he called for understanding.
The source said: “It was purely a briefing on how the present administration has improved on the security situation in the country and what it is doing to address some emerging challenges.
“He assured the governors that everything was being done to provide adequate and water-tight security nationwide.
“He said the President and his security chiefs have been working round the clock to make the country safe.
“One of the key points was the unfolding of a plan to set up a committee to reform the Nigeria Police Force(NPF) to be able to manage the nation’s internal security well.”
A governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “The meeting also bordered on food security and how to assuage it.
“We agreed that the food challenge has a nexus with security problems.
“We agreed on how to make food available in all the states to curb the recourse to protest as witnessed in some states.
“So, the online session came up with suggestions to the food crisis and what each governor should put in place to avert hunger in the land.”
Another governor said: “The meeting provided useful insights into how the Federal Government has been addressing the security problems in some states.
“We were able to know the dark spots and how to complement all security agencies in our states.”
THE NATION
