The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed concern over the dangers of food insecurity and scarcity which has become a serious national issue.
The expression was made by the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen George Akume in his address at the opening of a meeting of Federal and States Security Administrators in Bauchi.
The SGF Secretary who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Special Services in his office, Tukur Yahaya stated that with a report recently released by the World Food Programme which says Nigeria would face acute hunger between June and August this year, collective efforts should be made to provide adequate security for farmers towards achieving food security.
As Chairman of the Federal and States Secretary Administrators Meeting, the SGF said that the meeting was apt considering the adverse effect of food crisis in the country due to acts of insurgency and other violent activities.
He also stressed that banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of insecurity have chased farmers away from the farms stressing that urgent measures must be taken to address the menace.
The SGF commended security agencies for working round the clock and very hard to scale up various operations against insurgency and various forms of insecurity across the country.
He commended Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed for hosting the meeting which is expected to fashion out ways to overcome the challenges.
The meeting was in a bid to enhance surveillance and general security operations across the country, deliberate and proffer solutions to various forms of security situations.
The meeting organized by the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation in collaboration with Bauchi State Government was also aimed at providing a better platform for mapping common internal security measures in line with the current security situation.
While declaring the meeting open, Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed identified kidnapping, cattle wrestling, banditry, and youth festiveness as some of the areas of security concerned.
Represented by the Commissioner in charge of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Barr Abubakar Abdulhamid Bununu, the Governor said that his administration has introduced Vigilante and Youths Empowerment Agency to complement efforts of conventional security agencies in the fight against crime and criminality across the state.
He reiterated his Administration’s support to all security agencies operating in the state stressing that the Administration cannot afford to allow charlatans to create security skirmishes in the state.
Bala Mohammed added that in recognition of the pivotal roles and responsibilities of security, his administration created a Ministry of Security and Home Affairs to serve as a coordinating and rallying point for security agencies working in the State for peace of all.
He urged the meeting to assist the state with expert advice on how best to achieve the required peace and security stability of the State and Nigeria as a whole.
The Governor appreciated the Organisers for the choice of Bauchi State to host the meeting and enjoined the participants to deliberate and come out with workable resolutions that will assist in improving the security situation of the country.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Chief Security Adviser to Bauchi State Government, Dr Ahmed Adamu Chiroma, appreciated Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for his continuous support to security agencies in the state and urged the participants to assist the Government in achieving success.
The meeting had in attendance, Commissioners of Internal Security from across the country, Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries, Heads of Security Agencies, Officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), States Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) amongst others.
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