President Tinubu has Stated that his administration will not stop until he completely wipes out banditry, terrorism and all other forms of insecurity in that country.
He also said that the country is witnessing a turning point and that different strategies are being adopted by the security forces, including rules of engagement which has already begun to yield.
The President said this when he declared open the North West Peace and Security Summit with the theme, “Regional Cooperation for Securing Lives and Livelihoods in North West Nigeria,” which was organised by the North West Governor’s Forum who collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at Government House, Katsina State.
During the Summit, the immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari; Governors Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State as well as the Deputy Governors of Kaduna, Kebbi and Kano States as well as federal lawmakers from the region, all were present.
President Tinubu, was represented at the two-day event by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who stated: “What we are witnessing across the North is an explosion of these damaged relationships, and we have come to say: enough is enough. Our first decision was to task our brothers from the North-West and the North-East with the defence and security of the region.
“Who else can better understand the complexity of the crisis of a region than the people themselves? This has been a turning point, and I am proud to share that the strategies we have employed have begun to provide redemption. We are not slowing down until we achieve our aim.”
The President’s address titled, “Securing Stability: Uniting for Peace in North-West Nigeria,” Shettima explained why Northern Nigeria is always considered globally as one unified people, saying the region’s unity is firmly “rooted in a culture and bond of shared interests and common pursuits”.
“Beyond the economic rationale that drove the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria, the formation of our great nation was inspired by the need for mutual protection. But, I ask, how can we achieve this sacred objective if one part is afflicted?
“We have long established that whatever ails any part of this federation destabilizes the other. So, the issue of national security in the North-West is not a sectional agenda. We promised to make Nigeria safer, and this aim has been our topmost priority since we came to office over a year ago,” he said.
He also observed that to ensure this peace and security historical injustice should be addressed.
“We must also reverse the institutional frailties governing security and the economic dysfunctions that create vulnerabilities to crime. We must also counter the ideological mischief that has pervaded the discourse of peace and security in the region,” he added.
The President also said that the Peace and Security Summit was necessary to bring solutions to insecurity and ensure a nation “where every trade is safe, where every group is at peace, and where the policing and military presence of the state is optimal.”
Tinubu said his administration is using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods to build the nations security infrastructure.
He continued: “Our choice of Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna States for the pilot phase is strategically planned to create positive, nationwide transformations. The comprehensive plan includes building residences, roads, schools, and essential facilities, fulfilling our pledge to the nation.
“This effort symbolizes our commitment to sustainable development and a unified, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria, transforming our diversity into strength. Today, I believe we are going to continue comparing our ideas and thoughts to not only review our strategies and improve upon them to make the states in the North-West stable and peaceful parts of the nation, but to assure ourselves that we cannot achieve the triumph we desire without any part of the nation being secure.”
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