From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has described collective actions as the only plausible panacea to banditry and other forms of security challenges facing the state and Nigeria in general.
A statement issued by Abubakar Bawa, press secretary to the state governor on Tuesday said that Aliyu stated this in his independence anniversary message to the people of Sokoto State.
The governor stressed the need for people in the state to complement the efforts of the federal and state governments in protecting the lives and property of the people of the state.
According to him, the present administration in the state has, since its assumption of office, spent huge sums of money in securing the state.
“When we came on board, the monthly allowances given to the security operatives deployed to flash points had stopped, and we have since restored that and even increased the amount
“We equally procured 100 vehicles which we distributed to the security outfits in the state to checkmate the activities of bandits in the state,” he added
The governor further said his administration has also set up a Community Guard Corps with a view to complementing the effort of the conventional security outfits in protecting the lives and property of the rural communities.
Gov. Aliyu said, “All these were part of our modest efforts to redeem our pledge to guarantee the safety of lives and property of our people.”
The governor expressed optimism that with the present measures being taken by the federal and state governments, the security challenges confronting the nation would soon be surmounted.
He, therefore, called on all Nigerians to collectively join hands with the governments at all levels to get the country out of the current security quagmire and other challenges that have become bottlenecks to Nigeria’s development.
The governor, while congratulating Nigerians on Nigeria’s 64th anniversary, charged them not to forget the nation’s founding fathers’ struggles which led to the attainment of Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
The governor also paid glowing tributes to the nation’s fallen heroes for the sacrifices they have made in making the country an indivisible nation.
He further stressed the need for Nigerians to always ensure that Nigeria’s unity is preserved, protected and not compromised.
The governor also wished the entire nation a happy independence anniversary.
