Chukwumerije Aja, Enugu
The Nigerian Senate has held its 10th National Security Summit in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria, under the theme “Strengthening Nigeria’s National Security Architecture: Innovation, Collaboration and Resilience in a Changing World”.
The summit gathered input from stakeholders on ways to address security issues, especially in the Southeast region.
Senator Austin Akobundu, in his welcome address, lamented the displacement of communities, abandonment of farmlands, and disruption of schools.
He emphasised that violence solves nothing and that agitators in the southeast must be made to understand that self-determination cannot be achieved through violence.
Akobundu called on the government to address issues of inequality, injustice, marginalisation, unemployment, and poverty that are fueling separatist agitation.
The senator also commended the efforts of the governors in the region for their determination to quell extremism.
He appreciated the security agencies, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and the media for their efforts to enhance security in the region.
The Senate is seeking to amend and repeal existing laws and make new ones to ensure a more secure and prosperous Nigeria.
Akobundu urged stakeholders to freely make inputs to the issues before the summit, saying the Senate will rely on the recommendations to turn around the fortunes of the land and people.
The Senate has assured Nigerians that it will continue to play its role in ensuring inter-agency collaboration among security agencies and provide adequate resources to restore peace and prosperity to the southeast region.
The event was attended by senators, governors, traditional and religious leaders, representatives of non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations, and the media.
Meanwhile, the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Uche Ugwu, has emphasised the need for a united approach to address the security challenges facing the Southeast region.
Ugwu said the gathering was an opportunity to listen, understand, and suggest solutions to the realities on the ground.
Ugwu stressed that investing in intelligence gathering and addressing the economic conditions that make young people vulnerable to criminal activities were crucial to tackling insecurity.
He also emphasised the importance of rebuilding trust between communities and security agencies.
The Speaker highlighted the issue of open grazing, saying it was a major concern in the Southeast and that strategies used in developed parts of the world should be adopted.
Ugwu also called for the establishment of state police, saying it was an urgent matter that required attention.
He emphasised that security cannot be achieved by force alone and that addressing the absence of trust was crucial to achieving peace.
Ugwu thanked the Senate for giving the Southeast the opportunity to air its views on security, saying the region is facing challenges but is united in its determination to overcome them.