The federal government in collaboration with state governments would organise an extraordinary session to discuss security matters, especially as it relates to the economy.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Governor of Kaduna state, Mr. Barnabas B. Bantex, at the end of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
Bantex said the decision to organise the security session was arrived at following a briefing by the National Security Adviser, Mr. Babagana Mongonu on the security situation in the country with particular reference to Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, cattle rustling, ethnic militias/security outfits, kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy in Niger Delta and proliferation of small arms across the country.
He said the National Security Adviser identified unemployment as the major threat to nation’s security.
Also speaking, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state said the council also deliberated on the need to review the extant National Forest Policy and ensure its backing through the enactment of relevant forest laws.
He said the council recommended massive afforestation/reforestation of degraded forests and landscape and the establishment of take-off of the National Forestry Trust Fund through contributions by wood products exporters according to products classifications – tally processed, semi-processed and charcoal, etc.
He said the council also recommended the establishment of National Forest Model Estate in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, and ensure improvement in forest governance and establishment of National Taskforce to effectively protect the forest estate/reserve, among other things.
