The Senate, on Thursday, unveiled plans to engage stakeholders across the country’s six geo-political zones in a series of nationwide consultations aimed at crafting sustainable solutions to the mounting insecurity.

Also, on Thursday, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, convened a peace advocacy meeting with their Royal Majesties, the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ortese Ayatse, and the Och’Idoma, John Odogbo, with other traditional leaders also in attendance, in a renewed drive for sustainable peace and security in Benue State.

This was as Afenifere, has called for the establishment of state police and restructuring of the country to address the current security challenges facing the nation.

In a related development, the federal government has moved to combat the perennial flood disasters in the country with the development of a National Flood Insurance Policy and Implementation Framework.

Senate Leader and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on National Security Summit, Opeyemi Bamidele, made the senate announcement during the committee’s inaugural meeting.

Bamidele stressed that development efforts would continue to falter without lasting peace and security.

“No amount of investment in infrastructure can yield meaningful results if insecurity persists,” he said, adding that peace remained the bedrock of national progress.

The 20-member committee was constituted to organise a national security summit and formulate actionable strategies to address Nigeria’s complex security challenges.

Members included Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno; Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro; Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu; and chairpersons of key committees overseeing the nation’s security architecture.

Others were Senators Adams Oshiomhole (Interior), Ahmad Malam-Madori (Police Affairs), Gbenga Daniel (Navy), Ahmed Lawan (Defence), and Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (Army).

Addressing the committee, Bamidele underscored the need for a context-specific approach to security reform.

“Our mission is to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of region, ethnicity, or status, can live, work, and thrive in peace,” he declared.

As part of its mandate, the committee would host zonal dialogues that engage not only political and security stakeholders, but also victims of armed violence, whose voices Bamidele said must be heard in shaping Nigeria’s security future.

“We are going to the zones to listen to the fears, frustrations, and hopes of our people. Only by understanding the root causes and hearing from those directly affected can we propose real, effective change,” he stated.

According to him, “Violence is no longer confined to traditional flashpoints. It is spreading to areas once considered safe, like Kwara, and intensifying in places such as Benue.

“In the South-East, kidnapping and separatist violence are almost daily occurrences. In the South-West, ritual killings are on the rise. Meanwhile, the South-South continues to battle oil sabotage and maritime crime, threatening our national economy,” Bamidele added.

He assured Nigerians that the Senate would explore bold, inclusive solutions by collaborating with traditional rulers, security agencies, civil society groups, local governments, and the media.

“Peace, unity, and inclusion are non-negotiable foundations for Nigeria’s development. This committee is committed to delivering actionable recommendations that will restore hope and security to all Nigerians,” Bamidele concluded.

CDS Meets Benue Chiefs over Insecurity

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has convened a peace advocacy meeting with their Royal Majesties, the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ortese Ayatse, and the Och’Idoma, John Odogbo, with other traditional leaders also in attendance, in a renewed drive for sustainable peace and security in Benue State.

The meeting, held at the Old Banquet Hall of Government House Makurdi, marked the second in a series of engagements with royal fathers and community stakeholders.

Briefing journalists after a closed door session, General Musa emphasised the sincerity of the federal government and military leadership in resolving the security challenges confronting Benue State.

He recalled previous consultations, including the recent visit by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as part of ongoing efforts to secure the state and ensure displaced citizens return to their communities.

“We have a challenge in Benue State, and I believe working together, we will find a solution,” he said, adding: “When we sit down and talk sincerely, bringing out all that is affecting us, we’ll be able to find the solution.”

The CDS appreciated the Tor Tiv and Och’Idoma for their candid contributions and called for continued collaboration between the communities and security agencies.

He urged royal fathers to regard the military as partners and “sons” working towards peace in a region with shared history and struggles.

Responding, the Tor Tiv acknowledged significant improvements since the last engagement and expressed optimism that the renewed dialogue would help to permanently address the state’s security woes.

“Our people also have some roles in the conflict, including cattle rustling. We are taking responsibility and working to bring our people under control to prevent further clashes,” he stated, urging security forces to apprehend and prosecute any criminal elements within the traditional domain.

The Och’Idoma, on his part, stressed the need to differentiate between peaceful Fulani residents and armed herders responsible for violence.

“We are not saying all Fulani should leave. The known, peaceful ones have been with us for years. We are asking only those carrying arms and causing terror, killing, raping, and destroying our farms to leave,” he said, adding that the people of Benue must be able to return to their farms and feed the nation as the “Food Basket of the Nation.”

Reacting to the traditional rulers’ remarks, Musa warned that certain individuals, both internal and external, were fueling the crisis for political or economic gains.

He emphasised that the military would not condone illegal arms possession or criminal activities, regardless of the perpetrators’ identity or affiliation.

“Anybody bearing arms illegally will be arrested. If he threatens security forces, he will be neutralised. That is the mandate,” the CDS asserted, adding that the military was committed to replicating peace-building successes recorded in other troubled regions.

He cautioned military personnel against complacency and reminded them of their constitutional duty to protect lives, their colleagues, and host communities.

Speaking on the recent Yelewata attacks, General Musa confirmed the arrest of suspects, adding that prosecution would now follow, a development he said was long overdue.

“We are committed to ending the era where crimes go unpunished. There will be no sacred persons. Anyone involved in violence must face justice,” he said.

On the resettlement of displaced persons, the CDS revealed that Yelewata was now secure with additional forces deployed, and preparations were underway to facilitate the immediate return of IDPs to their communities.

Afenifere Renews Call for Restructuring

Afenifere, has renewed its call for the establishment of state police and restructuring of the country to address the current security challenges facing the nation.

Afenifere also called on President Bola Tinubu to forward an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to allow the establishment of state police  and restructuring of the country to address the current security challenges facing the nation.

In a communique by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, issued at the end of an expanded executive committee meeting held in Akure, the group expressed concern over the increasing insecurity in Yorubaland and other parts of Nigeria.

“State Police  must be established without further delay. In this respect, Afenifere calls on President Bola Tinubu to forward an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to allow the establishment of State police  in line with his pronouncement that says that State Police is now a necessity.

“We call on the president to use his authority to ensure that the process that will lead to the  actualisation of state police get done immediately,”Afenifere noted, adding that while the security agencies were trying their best, the current situation could not be quelled by force of arms alone.

The group recommended several steps to address the security situation, including the establishment of state police, procurement and deployment of modern technology equipment, and dealing with internal collaborators.

“Modern technology  equipment be procured and adroitly deployed. Some of these are drones, close circuit cameras etc. While the above are  important, the need to deal with internal collaborators is also very crucial.

“As stated by various people in the position to know, including some top government officials, elements within the community, in political offices and among security agencies are collaborating with those who are terrorising the country,” it stated.

Afenifere also supported the enforcement of anti-open grazing laws and called on President Tinubu to forward an executive bill to the National Assembly to amend the constitution to allow the establishment of state police.

The group reiterated its call for restructuring the country, believing that it was capable of resolving socio-political and socio-economic challenges.

The meeting also condoled with the family of former Kwara State Governor, Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, who passed away. Afenifere recalled the patriotic roles played by the former Governor in various efforts to restore democracy to Nigeria.

“Afenifere recalled the patriotic roles played by the former Governor in various efforts to restore democracy to Nigeria. This became more evident during the NADECO struggle for the restoration of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election,” it stated.

FG to Introduce National Flood Insurance Policy to Combat Perennial Flood Disasters

The federal government has moved to combat the perennial flood disasters in the country with the development of the National Flood Insurance Policy and Implementation Framework.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Kambari said the government took the step in the light of the reoccurring flood disasters experienced almost yearly in the country, and proactive and sustainable approach towards flood risk management.

He made the revelation at the Technical Committee Meeting (TCM) on the Development of the National Flood Insurance Policy and Implementation Framework in Abuja, while also calling on stakeholders and communities to transit from taking reactive measures and be proactive in tackling flood risk.

Kambari explained that the establishment of a National Flood Insurance Programme (NFIP) as encapsulated in Berthing 4 of the National Erosion and Flood Control Policy (NEFCOP) stood as a cornerstone of this strategy.

He noted that the programme would provide financial resilience by offering a safety net for individuals, businesses, and communities, enabling swift recovery from flood-induced losses as well as alleviate government expenditure by reducing the fiscal burden on federal and state resources that are allocated for emergency relief and reconstruction.

He added that the programme would institutionalise risk-sharing and coordinated flood risk mitigation among the federal, state, and local governments, as well as private sector stakeholders, particularly floodplain developers.

Michael Olugbode, Sunday Aborisade, George Okoh and Fidelis David

Follow us on: