The North Central Governors’ Forum on Monday appealed to the Federal Government to support its ongoing digital technology and other security preventive measures to fight against all forms of criminality in the zone.
Daily Trust reports that the resolution was reached at the end of the Forum’s meeting held at the Government House in Makurdi in Benue State.
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, who read the Communique to journalists in Makurdi, stressed the need for national interest as guiding principle for states in the region as he expalined that the meeting focused on common challenges of the zone to include, insecurity, economic and infrastructural deficits.
“Member States in the zone to jointly appeal to the Federal Government to support the Zone in its ongoing Digital Technology project(s) and other security preventive measures so as to fight all forms of criminality.
“Member States to collaborate in the provision of security equipment and joint operations.
“Need to establish Military Camps or Training Grounds in Forests zone to block movement of the hoodlums. The Military Units should be Infantry heavy with adequate support weapons. Also, elements of Armoured Unit (Track Armour Vehicles/APC) will be necessary,” he said
The Forum harped on the resuscitation of Peace and Security Committees at Local Government levels to enhance quick decision on insecurity, crime prevention and detection while stressing the need for the Nigeria Police Force to synergize with the State Governments in the recruitment and training of Community Police for the provision of adequate security at grassroots level.
Governor Bello also noted the resolve of the forum to restore involvement of traditional and community leaders in intelligence gathering as well as sharing in order to assist security agencies in fighting the insecurity in the zone and to share Intelligence amongst member states and create multi-layer intelligence gathering.
Modern livestock farming
Flanked by Governors of Kwara, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Kogi’s Yahaya Bello; Benue’s Governor Samuel Ortom while their colleagues from Nasarawa and Plateau States were represented by the Deputy Governor and SSG, Emmanuel Akabe and Professor Danladi Atu respectively, the Niger governor emphasised the need for States of the zone to request the services of Agro-Rangers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to provide security to farmers/farming activities.
“States of the zone to look into modern way(s) of livestock farming through the promotion of Ranching and assistance to genuine livestock farmers. The zone to key into the Federal Government Livestock Transformation Plan, ,allowing States to drive the process.
“Individual member States to develop Fishery production programme and approach Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] for funding in order to create employment. Member States to take advantage of National Agricultural Land Development Authority [NALDA] to encourage farming activities.
“Member States to deepen the production of high economic valued crops such as Soya Beans, Sesame, Maize, Rice and Cashew, Ginger, among others. Member States to establish Livestock and Commodity Border Markets,” Bello added.
The Forum however urged states in the zone to concentrate on infrastructural development such as roads while also encouraging them to strive for the enactment of enabling laws to enhance revenue generation as a response to the dwindling federal allocation.
The Forum further expressed concern on the upsurge of COVID-19 pandemic in the country and called on member states to intensify risk communication and sensitisation for people to adhere strictly to preventive measures.
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