Don’t let Nigeria become another Afghanistan – Governor Yahaya tasks security chiefs, experts

In a statement on Thursday, by the Director-General (Press Affairs) Government House Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misilli, said the Governor made the observation, while speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, at a Roundtable Discussion.

According to him, the discussion centred on the Security Situation in Afghanistan: Implications for Nigeria and Africa, organized by Alumni Association of the National Defence College in the Nation’s capital.

The governor, who described the event as apt and timely, noted that Nigeria and Afghanistan share a lot of characteristics, hence what affects the South Asian country has consequences in Nigeria and Africa in general.

He said the implications of the development in Afghanistan and other countries across the world are worrisome and disturbing, especially with the insecurity that is challenging the fabric of Nigeria.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya observed that presentation of papers and holding of roundtable discussions are not enough but implementing the outcomes of the deliberations is what matters most.

According to him, we are good at organizing seminars and roundtable discussions but at the end of the day nobody implements the outcome of the deliberations

He therefore, urged the organisers of the roundtable to see to it that the communique that will be issued at the end of the engagement is implemented to the later

The governor, who shared with participants the Gombe State experience, advocated for a strong synergy among the federal, states, local governments and other relevant stakeholders so that issues of security are nipped in the bud before they snowball and get out of hand.

“I think it is expedient to share the experience of Gombe State so that together we can cross fertilize ideas; for sure being in the North East and in the centre of the region sharing boundaries with all the remaining five States, Gombe is very vulnerable and it equally has the experience of the attendant consequences of the displacement of people within the subregion,” he further said.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya, however, remarked that prior to taking over as Governor, he set up a security transition committee that was saddled with the responsibility of analysing the security situation with a view to providing a roadmap on how to manage the security architecture in the state.

He explained that on coming into office, he established a ministry to take charge of internal security and ethical orientation being the first of its kind since the creation of the State.

He said the ministry coordinated between the state and security agencies as well as with traditional institutions and cultural organisations with a view to imbibing and maintaining the excellent traditions embedded in the people’s culture.

“So far, I can say we are doing well even though Gombe is not in the frontline but being in the middle, it is a transit route for weapons, strategic planning and even for distribution of illicit drugs as well as other materials needed by the insurgents for them to operate and we are making frantic efforts at closing these gaps and making sure that we curtail such nefarious activities and maintain the relative peace,” he further said