By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Key stakeholders from government, defence, academia, and the legislature have proposed a coordinated, multi-dimensional approach to ending insecurity in the North-West, during a Public Hearing of the North-West Zonal Security Summit held in Kaduna on Saturday. The event forms part of the Senate Adhoc Committee’s preparations ahead of a National Security Summit scheduled for December 1 in Abuja.Governor Uba Sani urged the Federal Government and security agencies to adopt an integrated security model that combines military strength, community participation, and long-term socio-economic development. He also called for the creation of a North-West Theatre Command that will unify the Nigerian Army’s 1st and 8th Divisions.According to him, the unified structure would “accelerate intelligence sharing, enhance coordinated operations, and dismantle cross-state criminal networks more effectively.” The governor’s position was communicated in a statement released by his media aide, Ibraheem Musa.
Governor Sani further recommended expanding the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to cover Nigeria’s border with Niger Republic, stressing that such an expansion would help disrupt arms trafficking routes and deny criminals cross-border safe havens. He however cautioned that military force alone cannot resolve the crisis without the trust and involvement of local communities.To strengthen community engagement, he proposed setting up permanent Security Committees at the state and local government levels. The committees would include traditional rulers, religious leaders, women’s organisations, youth groups, civil society organisations, and security agencies, serving as early-warning mechanisms and conflict-resolution platforms.
Governor Sani also reiterated his call for the establishment of state police, noting that Nigeria’s centralised police system can no longer effectively serve a population of over 230 million people. “With fewer than 400,000 police officers nationwide, many rural communities are left without meaningful protection,” he said.Delivering remarks on behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to building a resilient national security framework. He disclosed that the administration has recorded significant gains in reopening major transportation corridors and restoring normalcy in previously troubled areas.
He noted that key routes across Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, and Kebbi have reopened, while markets in Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, Batsari, Giwa, and Kajuru are experiencing increased activity. “Many villages that were displaced in earlier years have returned, and several schools closed due to insecurity have resumed academic activities under strengthened protection,” the minister said. He, however, acknowledged that threats from bandits, terror cells, and organised criminal networks persist.In his keynote address, Prof. Muhammad Kabir Isa of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, argued that current security strategies remain ineffective because they are fragmented, poorly coordinated, and fail to address the structural drivers of insecurity. He stressed the need for a comprehensive regional collaboration platform to harmonise strategies, strengthen intelligence systems, and integrate humanitarian and development interventions.“These limitations underscore the necessity of building a robust regional collaboration platform capable of harmonising strategies and addressing both immediate threats and long-term governance challenges,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Senator Babangida Hussaini, said the summit was convened to enable stakeholders in the region frankly assess the scale of insecurity and propose practical solutions. He confirmed that the December 1 National Security Summit in Abuja would collate nationwide inputs for a more coordinated security framework.Hussaini commended Governor Uba Sani for his exceptional support toward the success of the regional summit, describing it as unprecedented.
