North Central insecurity threatens food security of 200m Nigerians – Alia
Benue Governor Warns of Insecurity Threatening Food Security in North Central Nigeria
Makuidi, Benue State – Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the Governor of Benue State, has expressed grave concerns over the escalating insecurity in the North Central region, warning it poses a significant threat to food security for more than 200 million Nigerians.
Governor Alia made the remarks during the North-Central Regional Security Summit held at the New Banquet Hall of the Government House in Makurdi. He emphasized the crucial role that farms in the region play in supplying food to various parts of the country, adding that its mineral resources are vital to the Nigerian economy.
“When the North Central is insecure, it is not only our problem; the whole country feels it on its dining table,” Alia stated. He highlighted the importance of the region’s agricultural output, noting that essential food items such as yams, rice, and tomatoes are transported through the region to markets nationwide.
To combat insecurity, the governor called for collaborative efforts to enhance regional security and stability, urging the involvement of traditional rulers, border communities, and grassroots intelligence networks. He underscored the need for unity among the people of the region to effectively confront threats.
Governor Alia further pointed out that collaboration must lead to tangible actions that engage local custodians of the land, who often possess the earliest warnings of potential threats. He noted his decision to host the summit in Benue was influenced by the historical insecurity challenges along the Benue-Plateau axis.
He urged summit participants to consider socio-economic drivers of crime, such as poverty and unemployment, alongside the need for improved intelligence sharing and community engagement to address the underlying issues.
Alia commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to addressing insecurity across the nation and encouraged all stakeholders to align with the summit’s objectives.
The summit, organized by the Ministry of Defence in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, gathered governors, security chiefs, community leaders, and various stakeholders from the North Central region to discuss solutions to the insecurity affecting the area.
Participants characterized the summit as a crucial initiative aimed at localizing security responses to issues such as banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, kidnappings, violent extremism, and organized crime. They acknowledged the Federal Government’s efforts to decentralize security planning and called for the implementation of the summit’s outcomes to foster peace and stability in the region.
