President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila have separately admitted that Nigeria is currently under threat from the rising insecurity across the country.
This was also as President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the House of Representatives for organising a national summit, aimed at brainstorming over the current security challenges facing the nation, describing the move as timely.
Represented at the event, Wednesday in Abuja by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustafa, the president said it remained the “responsibility of all Nigerians in and out of government” to work towards addressing the challenges, urging participants to set aside ethnic, political, religious, and other considerations in the national interest to speak frankly on the possible solutions, calling on the legislature to use the opportunity provided by the summit to pass more laws to enhance the operations of national security agencies.
On his part, Femi Gbajabiamila called for joint efforts by government and all Nigerians towards overcoming the rising insecurity in the country, saying to achieve this, ethno-religious differences and other factors that often divide Nigerians must be put aside for the urgency of safeguarding the nation.
He said at a time when insecurity threatened the authority of the state and foundations of Nigeria’s nationhood, and when the activities of insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals “impede our efforts at progress and prosperity, we must confront the realisation that our previous and current approaches to addressing the challenges of insecurity have not yielded the desired results.
“It may well be that it is in the crucible of this battle for survival that we become a nation fully formed. Therefore, we must rise to the moment with passion and perspective. We hope for peace and desire its benefits. Yet, neither fervent hope nor heartfelt desire will suffice because the ends of peace require action,” he said.
Senator Lawan, in his goodwill message, urged the legislative and executive arms of government to work more closely together by ensuring that recommendations from sessions such as the summit were implemented, stressing that a red forces needed improved funding.
