By Ben Ngwakwe Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has explained that the second Gombe State Security Summit organised on Wednesday was to build on the successes of the first Gombe State Security Summit.
Our correspondent reports that the maiden security summit was held in August 2022. It brought together key stakeholders to discuss, identify, and propose actionable solutions to the insecurity challenges facing the state and the broader North-East subregion that eventually brought relative peace in the state.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at International Conference Centre Gombe, the governor said that security is the primary responsibility of every government and without security, there can be no peace, and without peace, there can be no development, adding that the nexus between security, peace, and development is the foundation upon which his administration had built the collective efforts.
On the theme ‘Building a safer and more secure Gombe State: Addressing insecurity through collective action’, the governor said, “In Gombe State, we have always recognised that the safety and well-being of our people are a top priority.”
According to Yahaya, “Gombe State, though relatively stable, continues to face its own share of challenges. These include spill-over effects from neighbouring states, legacy issues like communal and farmer-herder clashes, and emerging threats such as cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes. To address these issues comprehensively, we must embrace collective action, requiring the cooperation of stakeholders at all levels: security agencies, traditional and community leaders, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and the private sector.”
“The recent EndBadGovernance protests in August last year served as a stark reminder of the growing youth unrest in our society. Driven by frustration over joblessness and lack of opportunities, the protests highlight the ticking time bomb we face unless we urgently address these challenges. Our youth, as the leaders of tomorrow and the backbone of our society, deserve our highest degree of attention.
“We must combat the menace of drug abuse among our youth, and we must work tirelessly to harness their creative potentials by equipping them with education, skills, and the opportunities they need to succeed in our fast-changing world.
“In Gombe State, we have taken steps to empower our youth through initiatives like skills development programs, entrepreneurship support, and investment in education. However, more needs to be done at all levels of government and society to ensure that our young people are not left behind. It is only by addressing the root causes of youth restiveness that we can build a more inclusive, productive, and peaceful society for generations to come,” he said.
Yahaya added that over the past six years, his administration adopted a holistic approach to tackling insecurity through the three pillars of defence, development, and Dialogue.
“Through defence, we invest in strengthening the readiness and offensive capabilities of our security agencies by providing operational vehicles, equipment, and other critical support. Initiatives like GOSTEC and Operation Hattara have enhanced community policing and supported law enforcement efforts. These measures have contributed to Gombe being adjudged as one of the safest and most peaceful state in the country in 2022, a testament to our proactive and inclusive approach to security,” he pointed out.
On development, he said, they are making concerted efforts towards addressing the root causes of insecurity by investing in basic services, provision of infrastructure and human capital development. In the education sector, we have constructed and renovated over 1,600 classrooms across 350 primary and secondary schools, recruited 1,000 teachers, and mopped up 350,000 out-of-school children. Built five mega colleges, in addition to building integrated Almajiri Tsangaya schools across the state.
He enumerated his achievements in the health sector, where they have delivered a fully functional primary healthcare center in each of the 114 wards, upgraded four general hospitals to specialist standards, and enrolled 353,000 residents under the Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Scheme (Go-Health), including over 100,000 poor and vulnerable individuals through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund. On water, sanitation and hygiene, we upgraded the Gombe Water Supply Scheme and implemented Local Government Water Supply Schemes in order to address perennial water shortages, constructed over 700 boreholes, and delivered basic sanitation and hygiene facilities across the state. All these interventions are geared towards tackling the root causes of underdevelopment, poverty, illiteracy, and deprivation, which provide fertile ground for crimes and criminality.
On community dialogue, he said, they have adopted a proactive approach to addressing security challenges by prioritising early detection of potential threats, convening regular stakeholder meetings, and fostering consultations with community leaders, security agencies, and other critical stakeholders, pointing out that the approach allows them to identify and address conflicts at their roots, nipping them in the bud before they escalate into full-blown crises.
“By leading from the front and demonstrating our unwavering concern for the welfare of our people, we have been able to maintain relative peace and stability in the state. This commitment to proactive engagement and conflict prevention remains a cornerstone of our security strategy, ensuring that Gombe continues to be a safe haven for its residents and a model for others to emulate,” Yahaya said.
While harping on the nexus between climate change and insecurity, he noted that global warming is real and cannot be ignored, stressing that deforestation, desertification, and environmental degradation have exacerbated competition over natural resources, often bringing farmers and herders into conflict. In Gombe State.
Yahaya added, “We have taken proactive steps to address these challenges. Through the Gombe Goes Green project, we have planted over 5 million trees to combat deforestation and desertification. We have also taken steps to restore grazing and forest reserves, and are addressing the menace of monstrous gullies across the state. These initiatives not only aim to mitigate the effects of climate change but also to reduce the potential for conflict over dwindling natural resources. By restoring our environment, we are creating a more sustainable future for our people and reducing the pressures that often lead to insecurity.
” The success we have achieved in Gombe State would not have been possible without the cooperation of our security agencies—the police, military, DSS, civil defence, NDLEA, and other security related agencies and stakeholders. I commend them for their dedication and pay special tribute to the brave men and women of our armed forces who have paid the supreme price in defence of our fatherland.”
He said that as part of the ongoing efforts to enhance security in Gombe State and he announced the donation of 50 operational vehicles to various security agencies operating within the state, adding that the gesture is aimed at bolstering their capacity to combat crime, ensure peace, and maintain stability across our communities which also demonstrated the unwavering commitment to providing our security agencies with the resources they need to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
He urged the recipients of these vehicles to make good use of them and to continue giving their all towards building a safer and more secure Gombe State, together, they can achieve the shared goal of peace and prosperity for all.
“We expect this summit to produce concrete recommendations and strategies for enhancing security coordination in Gombe State. It will also strengthen partnerships between government, security agencies, and local communities for effective crime prevention and control. Furthermore, we aim to develop a blueprint for sustainable peace initiatives to address the underlying causes of conflict and insecurity, and establish a working group to oversee the implementation of resolutions from the summit,” he added.
Yahaya called on all participants to engage in open, constructive, and respectful deliberations and to remember that the safety and security of the people depended on the decisions they make today.
“Together, we can build a safer and more secure Gombe State, serving as a model for other states across the federation.
He expressed his appreciation to Mr President for his commitment to the security, stability, and territorial integrity of our nation, lauding the National Security Adviser, for his participation and invaluable contribution to Nigeria’s security.
“Let me begin by extending a special welcome to the National Security Adviser, whose presence underscores the importance of this summit. Your Excellency, I would like to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the tremendous progress being recorded in the fight against banditry, Boko Haram, and other forms of criminality across the nation. As national security adviser, your leadership and unwavering commitment to securing Nigeria have not gone unnoticed, and we are grateful for your efforts.
“To our resource persons, organisers, and distinguished guests, I thank you for your contributions and wish us all a very successful summit,” he added.
