A group, Unity in Diversity Forum, has called for the deployment of special forces to all the known roads and highways in the country on 24-hour shift to reduce crime in the country.
The Forum, a group of young people from diverse political, ethnic, religious, tribal, regional, professional and other backgrounds and affiliations, made this call in a communique released after its annual Round Table on varying issues of topical nature on the future of Nigeria held in Abuja on Monday.
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The group, which lamented the increasing crime rate in the country, also demanded for the clearing of bushes by at least one mile away from the highways across the country as part of measures to tackle the insecurity on the country’s roads.
It also called for constitutional roles for the traditional rulers, insisting that it will go a long way to help resolve the issue of insecurity at the grassroots level.
While noting that there was a breakdown of and weakening of institutions that handle security, economy, education and infrastructure in the country, the Forum advocated for improved access to education by all Nigerians and the use of instruments such as governors forum and other influential bodies to push the agenda.
“The approach on education should be first prioritised on equality (improving girl-child education), availability/accessibility, then quality.
“Endemic poverty in the north is caused by the discrimination and the disenfranchisement of women that form a large percentage of the population in the north,” it added.
The communique, which pointed out that there was absence of governance at the local government level, also called for reform in the election of the local government level in order to enshrine quality leadership from the grassroots.