Senate plans nationwide consultations on worsening insecurity

The senate has announced plans to hold consultations across the six geo-political zones as part of efforts to tackle the worsening insecurity across the country.

Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader and chairman of the ad hoc committee on the national security summit, announced the plan during the committee’s inaugural meeting at the national assembly complex in Abuja.

Bamidele said the consultations would involve key stakeholders and victims of armed violence to identify the root causes of insecurity and design actionable solutions.

“No amount of money invested in infrastructure development will translate to any meaningful outcome without peace and security,” he said.

“For this reason, transforming pervasive insecurity to enduring peace is at the heart of the national security summit.”

The committee, which has 20 members, was constituted by the senate amid rising concerns over the safety of lives and property nationwide.

Members of the committee include Tahir Monguno, chief whip of the senate; Abba Moro, minority leader; Osita Ngwu, minority whip; Adams Oshiomhole, chair of the interior committee; Ahmad Malam-Madori, chair of the police affairs committee; Gbenga Daniel, chair of the navy committee; Ahmed Lawan, chair of the defence committee; and Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, chair of the army committee.

Bamidele said the summit would involve traditional rulers, security agencies, civil society groups, the media, and citizens with credible ideas on peacebuilding.

“We will interact with our people on the ground, listen to their fears and apprehensions and garner their suggestions on how to transform insecurity into effective order,” he said.

The senate leader noted that Nigeria can only achieve development and prosperity when peace and unity are guaranteed.

“In the past, the activities of insurgents and bandits were restricted to the north-east and north-west with a few states attacked in the north-central,” he said.

“Today, however, Kwara is negatively affected. The story of Benue is getting worse by the day.”

He cited increasing cases of ritual killings in the south-west, kidnapping and separatist violence in the south-east, and oil theft and piracy in the south-south.

“All these issues constitute economic sabotage to our fatherland,” Bamidele said.

He added that the committee would work round the clock to recommend far-reaching measures to restore peace and security nationwide.

On May 6, the senate resolved to hold a two-day national security summit to discuss solutions to the rising insecurity in the country.

The decision followed a motion sponsored by Jimoh Ibrahim, senator representing Ondo south.