The Federal Government has urged stronger collaboration to address Nigeria's growing security challenges, emphasizing foresight and early response. Vice President Kashim Shettima made the appeal at the Kogi State Security Summit and N500 billion Trust Fund Raising event in Abuja on Tuesday, represented by Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Ahmadu. Shettima described Kogi State as a strategic gateway linking multiple regions, a position that brings both advantage and heightened security demands. He acknowledged the complex security landscape inherited by the current administration, shaped by economic pressures, communal tensions and organised criminality. Security, he said, remains a top priority under President Bola Tinubu, with ongoing efforts to strengthen intelligence, inter-agency coordination and peace-building. Shettima noted that initiatives like the Kogi summit support federal goals by integrating local knowledge and community involvement. Strategic logistics bases are planned across Kogi's three senatorial districts to improve response times. He called on traditional rulers, security agencies and the private sector to play active roles in safeguarding the nation. Governor Ahmed Ododo affirmed that protecting lives and property is the administration's highest duty, calling the summit a vital step toward collective security. He stressed that peace is essential for investment, growth and prosperity. Crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and cybercrime require modern, coordinated solutions, he said. Ododo credited former governor Yahaya Bello for establishing the state's current security framework and acknowledged President Tinubu's intelligence-led national strategies. Kogi Police Commissioner Nasir Kankarfi advocated using the North Central Development Commission to streamline security funding and acquire drones, surveillance cameras and communication systems. The summit drew governors Biodun Oyebanji and Monday Okpebholo, traditional leaders and security officials.
Kashim Shettima highlights foresight in security while the administration presides over a worsening national safety situation. The call for proactive measures in Kogi rings hollow when basic coordination among federal, state and local actors remains unproven. Governor Ododo's emphasis on peace as a foundation for investment contrasts with the reality of citizens in high-risk areas who face daily threats without visible protection. The promised logistics bases and tech upgrades offer no assurance of delivery, given past failures in similar security funding initiatives.
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