Insecurity: Northwest govs want special grants

The governors of Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states have called for a Special Security Subvention or grant from the Federal Government to “adequately” continue the funding of the ongoing dialogue and peace programmes.

The three States are currently facing security challenges that had forced the governors to commence peace deals and dialogues with the bandits. The states have spent huge resources to sustain the peace processes.

Speaking separately at a special town hall meeting on security in Katsina, the governors said the grants would help to sustain the achievements recorded so far, especially “the drastic reduction in criminalities.”

The governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, said such grants was necessary as resources before the governments were lean.

Masari, who said several security operations were also ongoing in the states, added that the grants could as well assist the states to cushion the challenges of resettlement and rehabilitation of the repentant herders and their families.

On his part, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State said the federal government and other key stakeholders must key into security issues as security issues were not meant to be addressed by the government alone.

Governor Muhammad Matawalle of Zamfara State, who said the relative peace being enjoyed in the state was as a result of collective efforts, added that this was the time to contribute to the “all-encompassing” security issues instead of blame game.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said remarkable progress had been made in restoring peace to States on the front lines of banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling by the Federal government in collaboration with States grappling with security challenges.