The Chairman, Senate Committee on States and Local Government, Senator Abdullahi Gumel on Wednesday said the Senate would push for more funding for border communities to check insecurity in the country.
He made this known during an oversight visit by the Senate committee at the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) in Abuja.
He said, “It is very important we keep our border community well taken care off so that it will not add insecurity to the nation.”
He noted that members of the committee are very conscious of what is going on in terms of budgetary allocation to agency.
He said, “We will go to any length and talk to anybody that is concerned about more funds to the border communities so that we can get our country secured.”
He said the Senate regards the agency as important because lack of amenities at borders would make them vulnerable, adding that the communities must have good medical care, schools and other amenities.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of BCDA, Captain Junaid Abdullahi said the work of the agency is important because the border communities are the gate way into the country.
He said people living in those areas need amenities such that they have no need looking across the borders seeking any social infrastructure or services from neighbouring countries.
“And also because of the vulnerability of the border areas, it is susceptibility to infiltration by undesirable elements that threaten the security of our country,” he added.
“We need to secure the loyalty of the border communities to make them feel they belong to this country,” he said.
He said, “the communities have a duty and allegiance to this country so that they are not even tempted in any way to be a party to anything that will be against the interest of our country.”
The Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM) recently accused border communities of shielding gun smugglers.
PRESCOM said this fuels insecurity in the country through the proliferation of light arms and small weapons.
