BLAME THIS! — Abdulsalami Finally Exposes Cause Of HARDSHIP/Insecurity In Northern Nigeria; See Details
Former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has attributed the ongoing insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria to a combination of poverty, unemployment, and institutional shortcomings. In his address at the inaugural international lecture organized by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abubakar highlighted the complex web of issues contributing to the country’ s security challenges and emphasized that addressing these problems requires collective action.
Speaking to a diverse audience, Abubakar explained that the root causes of insecurity in the region go beyond just criminal activities. According to him, multiple factors, such as economic deprivation, unemployment, environmental degradation, and weak governance, have created an environment where insecurity thrives. ” Permit me to note that at the heart of the insecurity in this region, among other factors, are the undercurrents of poverty and unemployment, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, weak governance and institutional failures, as well as climate change and environmental degradation, ” he said.
He also pointed out that the widespread availability of small arms and light weapons, coupled with weak institutional frameworks, has exacerbated the insecurity, making it difficult for authorities to restore peace. ” These factors have certainly created a fertile ground for insecurity to thrive, with devastating impacts on our dear nation, ” Abubakar noted.
Despite these challenges, Abubakar urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the ongoing fight against insecurity. He called on citizens to partner with the government and security agencies to develop sustainable solutions. ” We must not, however, lose faith in our capacity to rise above the storms of insecurity, as this challenge is the responsibility of every Nigerian, and, indeed, all Africans, ” he added. Abubakar stressed that the task of overcoming insecurity is not limited to the government alone, but requires the active participation of every citizen.
In his speech, the former head of state also emphasized the importance of building a secure future for upcoming generations. ” Not only must we work together to find solutions to our country’ s security challenges, but we also owe it to ourselves, our children, and future generations to create a safer and more prosperous nation. May peace reign in our region and the world at large, ” he concluded.
During the same event, Nigeria’ s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reinforced Abubakar’ s call for collective responsibility. Idris emphasized that Nigeria’ s geographical location makes it particularly vulnerable to insecurity, given its shared borders with several conflict- ridden Sahelian countries. ” Nigeria shares a long and porous border with several Sahelian countries caught up in conflict, making us vulnerable to the spillover effects of their conflicts, ” Idris said.
He noted that the country’ s proximity to these war- torn regions has made border security a major challenge, further complicating efforts to curb the spread of insurgency and cross- border crimes. However, Idris was optimistic about the progress made by the Nigerian government in recent years. He cited the acquisition of new military assets as part of the government’ s efforts to boost the country’ s defense capabilities. ” Since the assumption of office 16 months ago, 12 aircraft have been acquired to boost the fighting capacity of our armed forces, ” he announced.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with the complex issues of insecurity, both Abubakar and Idris stressed the importance of unity and collaboration among all stakeholders in order to build a more secure and prosperous nation.