Insecurity worsened poverty in North West – Gov Sani

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has lamented that insecurity has worsened poverty in the North West.

According to Sani, the zone, which used to be the country’s food basket, is battling food insecurity due to the activities of criminals who have no regard for human life.

Sani spoke on Thursday while receiving Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, at the Government House, Kaduna.

The Governor said, “Insecurity has had a debilitating effect on all facets of life in the North West. Our zone, which was the food basket of Nigeria, now faces the challenge of food insecurity. Our people cannot access health facilities. Most of our children are out of school due to the activities of criminals with scant regard for human life and dignity. Poverty has worsened. Fear pervades our zone.”

He called for regional collaboration to tackle insecurity in the country, saying, “We must establish a Command and Control Centre to coordinate our joint efforts against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements in our region.

“We must also amplify support to our security forces, enhance our localised intelligence systems, stimulate investment in agriculture and agri-business, expand rural infrastructure, broaden access to education and healthcare, and promote inclusivity among all our citizens.”

Sani commended President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fighting insecurity in the zone, stating that the yet-to-be-launched Operation ‘Fansan Yamma,’ a joint military theatre command established to tackle insecurity in the region, would create an enabling environment for investments and economic growth.

“With this development, there will be significant improvements in food security, school enrolment, access to healthcare delivery services, and the rural economy in general.

“It will further create an enabling environment for investments, economic growth, and the revival of infrastructural projects that were stalled due to insecurity,” he said.

The Governor suggested that Operation Safe Haven in Southern Kaduna be reassigned to 1 Division in Kaduna instead of the 3rd Division in Jos, Plateau State, for operational convenience.

In his remarks, Badaru reiterated the Federal Government’s determination to tackle banditry and insecurity in the country, noting that establishing a Command-and-Control Centre in the North West zone is a crucial step in addressing the menace of banditry.

The Minister explained the government’s collaborative efforts with neighbouring countries, particularly Niger Republic, to combat terrorism and arms trafficking.

He said, “We are working closely with the military, security agencies, and neighbouring countries to tackle terrorism, banditry, and arms trafficking. The Minister of State for Defence recently visited Sokoto to gather recommendations, and the Chief of Defence Staff met with the Nigerien government to discuss collaborative efforts.”

Speaking on the security situation around Sokoto State and its borders with Niger Republic, Badaru assured the people that the Federal Government was taking proactive measures to overcome the challenge.

“It’s a real concern, but we are not unaware of the situation. We are working hard to tackle it. The collaboration with Niger will help combat the movement of terrorists, arms, and ammunition,” he said.

“The president is committed to ending insecurity in Nigeria. We’re working tirelessly to ensure peace and stability. I assure Nigerians that we’ll tackle these challenges, and by God’s grace, we’ll succeed,” the Minister said.