By Nasir Kura
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday stressed the need for strong collaboration between security agencies and communities in order tackle security challenges in the country.
The President said this when received report of the study undertaken by Senior Executive Course 40 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau state, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“Government is convinced that finding sustainable solutions to these challenges will require the support and collaboration of security agencies and communities. As such, the selection of the theme for your study was therefore, timely. I am glad that both Staff and participants of Senior Executive Course 40 of NIPSS embraced the task with much zeal and have today presented the report of their study.
“In November 2017 I tasked the Management of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, with the responsibility of strengthening the nation’s internal security framework through community policing by proposing models, policy options and strategies.
“The decision of government was borne out of our sincere desire to find sustainable solutions to the many security challenges inherited by this administration. The Challenges do not only threaten the security of lives and property, of our people but also the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country,” he said.
The President listed the challenges confronting the nation to include Boko Haram attacks, herders-farmers clashes, separatists’ agitations, and militancy, among others.
He said the NIPSS report was coming at the right time when government intends to change the national security strategy by placing much emphasis on the wellbeing of Nigerians.
He, therefore, directed relevant agencies of government to carefully study the report with a view to implementing its recommendations.
The President also pledged more funding for NIPSS, and directed officials of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to work towards providing necessary funding for the institute.
In his remarks, Acting Director General of the Institute, Jonathan Mela Juma, expressed hope that the federal government would implement the recommendations in the report in order to address the numerous internal security challenges facing the country.
“We are hopeful that the recommendations will be adopted by government as part of the strategies to checkmate the militating internal security challenges in the nation and to mobilise citizens to appreciate security as a collective responsibility,” he said.
He assured that the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies would continue to provide the needed policy inputs in the country’s drive towards a better society.
