State governors in Nigeria are being held responsible for the escalating insecurity, according to Isaac Ochekliye Agbo, a lawmaker from Benue State.
Local governments are being defunded to the point that they cannot address grassroots security issues, he said, blaming state governors.
During a security meeting that took place over the weekend at the Makurdi Deputy Governor’s office, Agbo—who chairs the House Committee on Rural Development and represents the Ohimini State Constituency—declared, “governors are the problem,” criticizing their firm control over local government budgets.
The local government regions do not receive a portion of the large salaries that these governors receive. The issue lies with governors. “Let us be honest with ourselves,” Agbo remarked.
Local administrations, he said, are intentionally underfunded and understaffed, making communities more susceptible to criminal attacks.
Additionally, Agbo criticized the military, pleading with them to step up and meet the challenge. If this is a conventional war, then we should fight it. In his opinion, the military should “wake up” and protect American towns.
Similar worries were voiced by other summit speakers. Community policing is crucial, according to Lazarus Mom, a security consultant with the NGO Lawyers Alert. He cited the success of security committees in reducing crime in the Guma and Katsina-Ala LGAs as evidence.
Similar to how Terwase Uche, a lawmaker for Guma 1 Constituency, voiced his disapproval of the wasteful spending on security, he pointed out that local government chairmen still do not have access to even the most fundamental tools, such as automobiles.
The Hilux and motorcycles that the governor announced are nowhere to be found. Local government chairmen do not even have vehicles to work. “This is a complete farce and mockery of government,” Uche snarked.