Insecurity: We Spend More Money On Security Than FG - Governors

ABUJA— GOVERNORS UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS' FORUM, NGF, have said that the country's security difficulties are gravely impacting residents' safety and socioeconomic growth, claiming that they finance the police more than the Federal Government.

Speaking at the start of the two-day Multi-stakeholders Summit organized by the NGF Peace and Inclusive Security Initiative, PISI, in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, in Abuja yesterday, Chairman of the NGF and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who reiterated that state governors fund police more than the federal government, said: "We buy them vehicles." We give them stipends. We even buy ammo in some circumstances.

"If we are to engage our military in aid to civil authority, which you will see in 36 states in our nation now, the military is participating in internal security operations, which is a major concern because, for me, it is role inflation."

"Now, when you exaggerate the function of the security institution beyond its basic mission, you have to deal with the repercussions." That may not be appealing. But this is where we are because the majority of Nigerians do not trust the police. They will still come and beseech the governor, "Governor, could you please ask the brigade commander to place a roadblock in my area?"

He said that the multi-stakeholder conference was intended to initiate talks aimed at finding innovative solutions to Nigeria's security concerns.

"Following the commencement of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, NGF, Peace and Inclusive Security Initiative, PISI, in July 2021, the NGF is making efforts to build fora to discuss ideas on how every stakeholder can contribute to the process of restoring peace and security to the country," he added

"As we all know, the degree of insecurity across the country not only jeopardizes residents' safety and means of subsistence, but also impedes Nigerians' enjoyment of their rights."

and make policy recommendations that will elevate this effort from a mere gathering of like-minded individuals to a movement that will produce competent and informed stakeholders who will then use this knowledge to adequately address the security challenges confronting this country's various geopolitical zones.

"As Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, I am pleased to say that the Forum supports any attempt to establish a more inclusive and collaborative forum for mobilizing an immediate national response to our country's security concerns."

"As discussions will take place in various areas or spheres of endeavor, such as the roles of security agencies, civil societies, and traditional institutions in managing security challenges across the country, it is my hope that this summit will stimulate strategic and collaborative responses among stakeholders on managing conflict and restoring peace in all parts of Nigeria," - he said

Governor Fayemi, who acknowledged that police had been exploited at the federal level, voiced great worry about the hostility to state policing in the context of sub-national governments abusing it. During the panel discussion, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong remarked, "Supporting multi-level policing is not necessarily the same as supporting state police, but just saying that the role of policing a community should be a liaison."

"The presence of vigilantes is a feature of multi-policing." However, we have not been able to make the best of the situation since the vigilantes have not been considered as an integral element of the security framework that we manage. And I believe that is what we must do."