FG Tasks States on Growing Violence
The federal government yesterday called on state governors to live up to their constitutional roles and take responsibility for growing insecurity in their states.
It said state governments enjoyed autonomy in the constitution with the attendant resources to address security challenges in their domains.
This comes as the federal government has said that Nigeria's foreign policy is under review with new focus on trade and investment, African Free Trade and Investment (ACFTA) and climate change.
It said the elections of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO); and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina as President of African Development Bank (AfDB), were made possible with its support and in furtherance of its foreign policy.
Speaking yesterday on ARISE NEWS Channels, the broadcasting arm of THISDAY Newspapers, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, said state governors had the financial resources, security votes and the presence of security chiefs in their domains to turn the tide against growing criminality in the country rather than waiting for federal intervention.
The minister decried the security situation in the country, which he said agitated the government.
"Well, it's a very sad situation that we still have an unacceptably high level of violence within the country. That is a real cause of serious concern. It's something that agitates the government.
"You know, a lot of the measures have been put in place to address those issues. You know, unfortunately, these fault lines we have as a country.
"We also need leaders in Nigeria to step up. You know, it's not just about the president; he can't do it on his own. We have a federal system. So, you have your governance in those states, and each state has tremendous autonomy.
"So, we need the governors of the states to step up because they have autonomy and things and they have to take their responsibilities and do what they also need to do,” he said.
According to him, with the resources at their disposal, the governors have no excuse not to end insecurity.
He said: "The governors have security votes, huge resources, funding that are given to them regularly, so they have financial resources and it's just a question of also allocating appropriately.
"There are police commissioners in each state; we work very closely with the governors and it's really a question of you know, just taking responsibility, not just the governors, I might say but all of us legislators as well opinion leaders and traditional leaders will have to take responsibility."