Stakeholders urge Niger Govt to collaborate with communities, CSOs to strengthen security
Stakeholders have called on the Niger State Government to work with civil society organizations, youths, women groups, and security agencies to strengthen peace and security in the state.
They made the call at a one-day town hall meeting on strengthening peace and security, organized by Search for Common Ground (SFCG) in Minna.
The participants also highlighted the need for the government to collaborate with communities to gather intelligence in tackling insecurity confronting the state, ensuring sustainable development.
The Chairperson of Niger State Peace Architecture (SPA) SFCG, Dr. Diamond Preye Nebechukwu, in her address, emphasized the need for communities to take ownership of security in their areas, stressing that it should not be left to the government alone.
She also stated that poverty, unemployment, weak governance, illiteracy, drug abuse, and the proliferation of light arms, among other factors, are driving insecurity. She underscored the importance of communities working together to provide vital information to security agencies to combat these challenges.
Dr. Nebechukwu, who is also the Director of the Abdulsalami Abubakar Institute for Peace and Sustainable Development Studies (AAIPSDS), stressed that security is a shared responsibility and that everyone must work together to end insecurity and bring peace to society.
The Niger State SPA chairperson further stated that the meeting was organized to ensure communities take ownership of the security architecture by working together to provide necessary information to security agencies in addressing security challenges.
According to her, “Security is everyone’s business. It is a collective responsibility that people must take ownership of. It should not be the exclusive responsibility of the government alone. There must be synergy between communities and security agencies in order to build trust. No amount of military action can guarantee peace; peace cannot be sustained by the gun, but through justice, education, and inclusion.”
Barr Mairo Mann, Permanent Secretary of the Niger State Ministry of Justice and Supervising Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, noted that women and youths must embrace dialogue for peace to thrive in society. She stressed that sustainable peace efforts should be built on strengthening existing structures, and that mobilizing communities for alternative dispute resolution can bring peace closer.
Also, the SFCG Programme Manager, Remikat Ayuba, said the organization is operational across various states in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central geopolitical zones of the country, enhancing collaboration for peace and security among communities.
Similarly, the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Niger State Chapter, Abdullahi Muhammad Ishaq, stated that in achieving peace at home, in communities, and in society among youths, the issue of youth restiveness must be tackled. Government and stakeholders must prioritize youth empowerment and engagement.
