Former President Says Programmes Were Designed to Curb Extremism, Empower Northern Youths and Create Jobs
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on the Federal Government to revive the Almajiri school programme and the Great Green Wall Project, describing them as initiatives designed to tackle insecurity, unemployment and poverty in northern Nigeria.
Jonathan made the appeal on Saturday while speaking at the public presentation and launch of Beyond the Bullets: Policing Terrorism in a Democratic System, a book authored by former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar.
Represented by his former Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadomhe, Jonathan said his administration established 121 Almajiri schools across northern Nigeria to provide children with technical and vocational skills alongside their religious education.
He explained that the programme was intended to equip young people with the skills needed to earn a living, contribute to national development and reduce their vulnerability to recruitment by extremist groups.
However, Jonathan lamented that the schools had declined following years of neglect by successive administrations, despite their original objectives.
He stressed that the fight against terrorism required sustained commitment, institutional learning and cooperation across successive governments, rather than relying solely on military operations.
According to him, tackling violent extremism requires a broader approach that addresses the social and economic conditions that can make vulnerable young people susceptible to recruitment.
Jonathan Highlights Great Green Wall Project
The former president also called for renewed attention to the Great Green Wall Project, which was designed to combat desertification, restore degraded land and improve agricultural opportunities in affected areas.
Jonathan said the initiative had the potential to make more land suitable for crop farming and animal husbandry while creating employment for hundreds of thousands of people.
He urged the government to revisit and review both programmes as part of a broader strategy to address insecurity and unemployment.
Saraki, Disu Stress Collective Responsibility
Also speaking at the event, former Senate President Bukola Saraki urged Nigerians not to leave the responsibility of combating insurgency and violent extremism exclusively to the military and police.
Saraki praised Abubakar’s service as a police officer, recalling his efforts to maintain peace and security while serving as Commissioner of Police in Kwara State.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu said the book underscored the importance of professionalism, the rule of law and public trust in effective policing.
Disu noted that policing required more than the use of force, stressing the importance of values, discipline and accountability in security operations.
The book’s author, Abubakar, urged military personnel and other security agencies to remain professional in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities. He cautioned against security personnel engaging in the very practices they were trained to prevent.
Businessman Aliko Dangote, who served as chief launcher, also acknowledged Abubakar’s contributions to Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
The discussions at the event highlighted calls for a comprehensive approach to national security that combines law enforcement with education, environmental restoration, employment and community development.
