- He noted insurgency flourishes amid pervasive suffering and hardship.
Katsina State Governor, Dr Dikko Radda, has attributed the widespread and perennial insecurity in Nigeria occasioned by insurgency and rising criminality to poverty and unemployment.
Radda made the assertion on Wednesday when he received a high-level delegation from the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) at the Government House, Katsina.
The delegation was in the state to present to the governor the “Sustainable Rehabilitation and Reintegration Project for Improved Livelihood and National Security”, which is a joint initiative targeting conflict-affected communities.
The project, which has had a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) since May this year, aims to promote economic empowerment using climate-smart integrated agriculture.
Radda said tackling poverty and unemployment was a panacea to insurgency and other security challenges currently bedevilling many parts of the country.
He noted insurgency flourishes amid pervasive suffering and hardship.
“Insurgency thrives where economic hardship exists. If we must win the insecurity war, we must combine kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, and that begins with tackling poverty,” the governor said.
While commending the partnership, the governor pledged the full support of the state government. He directed the Ministry for Internal Security and Home Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Agricultural Development Unit to lead the state’s collaboration efforts.
Mr. Denis Ozioko, who led the delegation from the NCTC, stated that the visit was to formally present the project to the governor, as he had been absent during the MoU signing.
Ozioko also stated that many other northern states have since expressed interest in the project, which is expected to transform lives and enhance community resilience.
On his part, Mr. Prakash Kantsilwal of IITA highlighted the project’s core vision of restoring hope through sustainable farming, trade, and peaceful living for every family in the state
Discussion about this post