President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors met on Tuesday over the nation’s security challenges with a call for coordinated approach in intelligence gathering and sharing for improved security of the nation..
The meeting which held virtually,had the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,heads of Defence, intelligence and Security agencies and members of the security commitee of the Nigerian Governors Forum representted by one governor from each of the geopolitical zones.
Buhari said that the Services have enough resources to ensure adequate security of the nation and that though he agreed that they needed more,, there is need for better gathering and interpretation of intelligence.
” Our intelligence gathering must be improved” he said.
According to the President, the issue of rejigging the operations of the military had been overflogged and said he is glad that” there is better synergy,and cooperation which are very important”
He disclosed that in a bid to further neutralise the fragments of Insurgents, that a shipment of military weapons and aircraft from Jordan, China and the United States are underway adding that for the equipment to be effectively utilised,those who will man them must first receive appropriate training.
Buhari urged the military to access areas inaccessible especially the Lake Chad area which have become a haven for the Insurgents but warned,
“We must make sure we follow bandits and terrorists,but there must not be deforestation in view of the climate situation”.
The governors agreed that poverty and Youth unemployment are the bane of security challenges in the country and should be addressed by all tiers of government.
The governors also highlighted trust deficit between military and civilian population, lack of coordination among military chief’s and inflow of small arms into the country as part of the security challenges.
In line with this, they urged the President to consider a bail out for security for each state in view of the huge resources they now spend in support of the military and the police.
