President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says the federal government has drawn a roadmap for tackling the various security challenges faced in the country which include series of military and non-military measures.
The President announced this at the opening of a two-day Northwest Peace and Security Summit in Katsina state.
The summit which was hosted in partnership with the United Nations Development Program, the European Union and the German Government brought together governors, lawmakers and traditional rulers from the Northwest zone as well as Heads of security and intelligence agencies to discuss new strategies towards ending insecurity in the zone.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was represented by Vice the President, Kashim Shettima stated that non-kinetic measures being explored by the federal government include police reforms, enhancing local policing efforts, promoting community dialogue and peace building, and investing in youth empowerment.
He explained that the measures would go a long way in complementing other efforts by the security agencies in tackling the menace which include greater synergy and the deployment of modern technology in the fight against insurgency, armed banditry and other forms of violent crime.
Similarly, Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed that the federal government has rolled out in the ‘Pulako Reettlement Initiative’ which entails the construction of residences, schools, health clinics and other essential facilities in security ravaged areas.
He noted that the project would commence with Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger and Benue states in the first phase of the scheme which will commence in the next couple of weeks.
Vice President Shettima said already fifty-one billion Naira had been secured for the commencement of the program which is expected to help in rebuilding the lives of internally displaced persons, orphans, widows and families that have lost their means of livelihood due to communal conflicts.
The United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Mallick-Fall observed that climate change and competition over scarce resources were some of the risk factors that affects states in the northwest zone of Nigeria.
He said peace building efforts by the Nigerian government and its partners should include the provision of alternative means of livelihood for communities that are at the front line of the conflict.
Report By Ismail Adamu
