Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, says, it’s time the nation suspended other programmes and concentrate on dealing with insecurity challenges.
Lawan made the observation on Monday in Maiduguri while speaking to newsmen.
Lawan who led a high Powered Federal Government Delegation to Maiduguri, Borno, to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the killings of 43 rice farmers by insurgents, said there would be no meaningful development without security.
“Today, the security situation is the most important thing to Nigerians, the rest can wait.
“Let’s put more resources to fighting insurgency, banditry and other security challenges.
“Let’s secure the lives of Nigerians first and then we can do any other thing. It is when we have a stable, secure environment that we can have domestic and foreign investments flowing into the country,” Lawan said.
He assured the National Assembly’s commitment to support the executive in doing everything possible to contain the security situation in the country.
The senate president who spoke on the need to do something about the nation’s security architecture for better results in the fight against insecurity in the country, said the killing of 43 farmers by insurgents should serve as a turning point.
He commended Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno for his commitment in providing leadership to the people of Borno at such critical time and assured of federal government’s support.
He also endorsed the governor’s call for recruitment of youths of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) who had knowledge of the terrain into the military and other security agencies to be drafted to fight the insurgents in Borno .
“I want to support and endorse the position of Zulum that we should look at the possibility of recruiting CJTF in view of their willingness and capacity in chasing out Boko Haram from Maiduguri town.
“They have the zeal and capacity to fight for their motherland and can bring about the change needed.
“I also believe that we should have more resources going to the armed forces,” Lawan said.
