Kaduna state Governor Nasir el-Rufai has expressed his angst over the federal government’s handling of the security challenges facing the state.
The governor said the state government’s effort at tackling the menace was not yielding the right result.
He also bemoaned the federal government’s refusal to refund to the state’s coffer money spend on fighting the menace.
Governor el-Rufai stated this Thursday while featuring on Channels Television special programme to mark the commencement of the 7th Kaduna Investment Summit (KADInvest 7.0) with the theme “Building a Resilient Economy,” monitored by Blueprint.
He said securing the state was made difficult by the structure of the security architecture which gives the federal government control over the nation’s security agencies.
The governor therefore made a case for state police, a bill he said, was already being forwarded at the House of Representatives from the state.
El-Rufai said: “I can tell you that we have done our best to tackle insecurity in Kaduna state, but we are being hampered by the structure which lies with the federal government.
“You may call this resignation, you may call it surrender, but absolutely it is not abdication.
“We have spent billions of naira in the fight against terrorists and bandits which naturally should be the duty of the federal government and we have sent the bill to the center for a refund, but that is not forthcoming.”
On challenges faced with the structure of the nation’s security agencies, the governor said: “Like I said, security is on the Exclusive List and heads of security agencies take directives from the federal government. For instance, I can give orders to the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna and it is his discretion to follow the orders or not.
“When I came in, Kaduna state had only 13,000 policemen, but we needed more than 20,000, to be able to police the state adequately.
“I wrote to the Police Service Commission, but it took almost two years for the request to be looked into. Even at that, we did not get the number we requested for.
“That is why I am also advocating for state police. We do need state police in Kaduna. Luckily, one of our members in the House of Representatives has presented a bill on that and we are behind him to see that it sails through.”
…Slams NNPC, says it has failed
On the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the governor described the giant oil firm as a big problem to Nigeria, saying if not sold off, it would bring the country to its knees.
He said the federal government has failed in the oil and gas business and should get out of the sector.
The governor categorically stated that since January 2022, NNPCL had not brought even N20, 000 to the Federation Account.
He said: “NNPC is a big problem to Nigeria and unless we resolve it, it will bring Nigeria to its knees. It is a systemic and institutional problem, it is beyond one person. There is no reason why the Nigerian government should still be in the oil and gas sector. It should just get out, it has failed. By every measure it has failed. This year NNPC hasn’t brought N20, 000 to the Federation Account.
“When I say the government should get out of oil and gas, people shouldn’t think it’s crazy, it’s not. We are living on taxes. It is PPT, royalties and income tax that is keeping this country going. Because NNPC claims that subsidy has taken all the oil revenues, I don’t believe that. So, the government should sell everything —the oil and gas sector. I have been making this point since 1999 when I was head of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). I have not changed my mind.
“The government should get out of whatever is left of electricity. Leave it to the private sector. Maintain the environment. The money will come. Nothing has changed for NNPC other than adding ‘L’ to it for the ‘Limited’. They are still taking our money. They are still declaring profits that we don’t see the dividends.”
The governor said the sectors doing well in the country like entertainment, telecoms, fintech and others have no government involvement.
He said notwithstanding the commercialisation of the NNPCL, nothing has changed with the sector since July 2022.
“Though the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari is trying his best, the company has failed and has no business being in the sector,” he said.