Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, has expressed concern over the spate of insecurity in the country, saying that the federal government lacks the political will to confront this menace head-on, news.ng reports.
Kwankwaso, in a post on X on Tuesday morning, said the current approach has failed to yield any tangible results in the fight against insecurity despite massive budgetary allocations to the security sector.
According to him, the heightened insecurity has led to the displacement of families, loss of lives, and immense pressure on the economy.
He said, “I have noted with grave concern the escalating wave of insecurity that has engulfed our beloved nation. Once again, Nigeria is bleeding profusely. From Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, and Kwara to Oyo and several other parts of the country, our citizens can no longer sleep with both eyes closed.
Banditry, kidnapping for ransom, terrorism, communal clashes, and armed robbery have tragically become daily occurrences. What is most alarming is the audacity of these criminals, who now brazenly hold live sessions on social media to taunt the authorities and terrorize the public.
This is totally unacceptable and not befitting of a sovereign nation like ours.
As someone who has served this country at various levels, including as Governor of Kano State and Minister of Defence, where we confronted and significantly reduced security challenges through decisive leadership and community engagement, I remain convinced that insecurity is not insurmountable. What we lack today is not resources, but the requisite political will and sincerity to confront this menace head-on.
“The current approach has clearly failed. Despite massive budgetary allocations to the security sector, the situation continues to deteriorate rapidly. Innocent lives are being lost daily, families are displaced in their thousands, and our economy is suffocating under the heavy weight of fear and instability.”
While there is no visible solution to curb the crisis at the moment, Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), said the situation requires a swift and complete overhaul of the sector.
The former governor called on the federal government to prioritize the provision of quality education, infrastructure, and accessible healthcare for all.
“We cannot continue on this dangerous path. Nigeria’s security architecture requires an urgent and comprehensive overhaul.
“Additionally, to safeguard our socioeconomic well-being, the government must prioritize the provision of quality education, modern infrastructure, accessible healthcare, reliable electricity supply, and essential agricultural inputs. This approach will strengthen local food production and reduce over-reliance on imports for food security.
“We must immediately prioritise the welfare and motivation of our gallant security personnel, strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance community policing, and, most crucially, tackle the root causes of this crisis: poverty, mass unemployment, and poor governance through massive investment in quality education, skills acquisition, and job creation for our teeming youth,” he added.
