Nigeria at crossroads over insecurity - Lawan

President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan has declared that Nigeria is at crossroads and its very existence is under threat, owing to the growing insecurity in the country.

Lawan lamented that what started like an uprising in 2009 in Yobe State has now snowballed into full scale insurgency in the entire Northeast while the Northwest is today home to banditry and kidnapping.

“The North central as we all know is not safe. It suffers the clashes between the herders and our farmers. And the recent introduction in the Southeast is another serious threat to the existence of this country. Where government institutions are targeted, our police and security agencies personnel are being killed on a daily basis, our institutions, and buildings are burnt.

“I believe that these are threats not only to those areas but the entire nation. And our armed forces are doing their best. I must commend our armed forces and other security agencies for doing so much with the little we are able to give them”, he said.

Lawan spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at the ongoing Special Summit on National Security, 2021, organised by the House of Representatives.

He said the National Assembly is always willing to give legislative and financial support to the armed forces and other security agencies, even though the parliament has its limits.

“The essence of this summit I am sure is to look for ways and means of improving the performance of our armed forces and other security agencies. This summit is essential because we are tested as a country. We are tested as a people. Criminals everywhere have found comfort in doing what they do.

“This is the time for the legislature and executive arms of government to come even closer in finding solutions. I want to take this opportunity to appeal and ask the executive to implement whatever would be the outcome of this summit.

There were previous summits by National Assembly; I recall we had a similar summit in the 8th Assembly and I believe that the legislative perspective is essential in finding solutions to the myriad of security issues affecting our country today. I want to also appeal to all Nigerians for their continued support for the administration and for our armed forces and our security agencies. All hands must be on deck.”

Lawan said it was also important that the country provided more resources for the security agencies to enable them better tackle criminal activities across the country.