As part of solutions to the security challenges in the country, Governors of the North Central region have called on the federal government to establish Military Camps or Training Grounds in Forest zones to block movement of hoodlums.
The Governors made this call in a communique reached at the end of the North Central Governors Forum held on Monday, in Government House, Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The Governors had met to discuss the economic and security challenges confronting the region.
In a communique signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Mr. Sani Bello, the meeting resolved that the Military Units should be Infantry heavy with adequate support weapons with elements of Armoured Unit (Track Armour Vehicles/APC) as a necessity.
They governors who urged member States to collaborate in the provision of security equipment and joint operations also appealed 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.
The meeting also called for the resuscitation of Peace and Security Committees at Local Government levels to enhance quick decision on insecurity, crime prevention and detection.
The Forum stressed 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.
It also stressed the need to restore involvement of Traditional and Community Leaders in intelligence gathering and sharing in order to assist Security Agencies in fighting the insecurity in the zone.
The governors called on states to partner with federal government agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Services to track the proliferation of light and small weapons.
They also called on states to enact unified laws to deal with Almajiri phenomenon.
The Forum appreciated the effort of security agencies in tackling the issues of insecurity in the zone and urged them not to relent.
As a way to boost agriculture in the region, the forum urged states to request the services of Agro-Rangers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to provide security to farmers/farming activities.
The communique also read in part: “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.
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“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 and establish Livestock and Commodity Border Markets.”
The forum also called on states in the zone to concentrate on infrastructural development such as roads and liaise with the federal government on the need to rehabilitate federal roads and allow state governments to manage using the tolling system.
The forum also urged member states to individually and collectively enact enabling laws to enhance revenue generation as a response to the dwindling FAAC allocation.
The Forum also expressed concern on the upsurge of COVID19 pandemic in the country and urged member states to intensify risk communication and sensitization on the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic and the need for people to adhere strictly to established protocols which include regular hand-washing with soap under running water, use of face-mask and maintaining physical and social distancing, among others.
Present at the meeting hosted by Governor Samuel Ortom were Governors of Kwara, Niger and Kogi, AbdulRahman AbdulRazag, Abubakar Sani Bello and Yahaya Bello respectively while their colleagues from Nasarawa and Plateau States were represented by the Deputy Governor and SSG, Emmanuel Akabe and Professor Danladi Atu respectively, among other government officials.
