Lawan Meets Buhari Over the Problems of Insecurity, NDDC Board

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, met behind closed doors with the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Lawan, while speaking to State House correspondence after the meeting, said that the issue of insecurity facing the country was discussed.

He said, “There is nothing more important today or more topical than the security of Nigeria.

“We have discussed, we had a very extensive discussion on the security of all parts of Nigeria, and how we should go about improving the situation, we all have roles to play.

“Nobody would like to see the kind of thing that we are experiencing in various parts of the country in the form of insecurity.”

The Senate President said it was the government’s responsibility to secure the country for Nigerians to earn their means of livelihood.

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He added that the government's desire was to see farmers return to farms before the rain started.

By extension, this means that the government must secure the rural parts and urban centers of Nigeria.

He disclosed that some activities aimed at improving security within two months will be seen in the country.

He added, “I believe that between now and probably the next two months, there will be a lot of activities to ensure that we secure environments for people to live a very normal life, where we also believe that the government is headed in the right direction.

“Recall that the National Economic Council approved taking some funds from the Excess Crude Accounts with a view to giving more resources to our armed forces.

“This is a commendable effort and we are ready to help with appropriation to ensure that we buy those things required for security.”

Lawan maintained that Nigerians believe in the unity of the country and that was the reason they live in any part of the country, irrespective of their ethnicity.

He expressed that political leaders were in the position to ensure support for that kind of feeling by protecting everybody.

He added that the Federal Government, state governments, local government and traditional rulers, all have parts to take in improving Nigeria's security.

Lawan also disclosed that he discussed the issue of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) governing board’s nomination with the President.

He noted, “We also had discussions on the need to ensure that government functions very well. So, we have few issues. These are housekeeping issues of getting the NDDC governing board’s nominations.

“I agree with Mr. President that we have to complete the forensic audit to ensure that everything is done properly and the report is submitted to him. It is significant that whoever is found culpable should be treated as such.

“That will serve as a lesson and as a deterrent to others, because NDDC should have transformed the Niger Delta into a better environment than what it has been since the NDDC was created by a law of the National Assembly in 2000 or so.

“We are talking about almost two decades. That should have been a sufficient time, given the resources that were deployed into the entity. So, we need to sanitise the NDDC and get the resources fully deployed in developing the Niger Delta.”