President Bola Tinubu emphasized that addressing historical injustices is crucial to achieving lasting security and peace in Nigeria. Speaking at the North West Peace and Security Summit in Katsina, Tinubu highlighted the need to tackle the deep-rooted issues that have caused divisions in communities.

He assured attendees that his administration is committed to eradicating banditry, terrorism, and other forms of insecurity. The strategies employed by the security forces are beginning to yield positive results, he noted.

The summit, organized by the North West Governors’ Forum in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), focused on “Regional Cooperation for Securing Lives and Livelihoods in North West Nigeria.”

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu stated, “What we are witnessing across the North is an explosion of damaged relationships, and we have come to say enough is enough. Our first decision was to task our brothers from the North-West and North-East with the defense and security of the region. Who better to understand the crisis than the people themselves?”

Tinubu described the summit as a communal effort to address the region’s stability and unity challenges. He stressed the importance of mutual protection, adding that national security issues in the North-West are not isolated but impact the entire nation.

The President outlined kinetic and non-kinetic interventions to build the country’s security infrastructure, including the Pulaku resettlement initiative. This initiative aims to address root causes of disputes and insecurity by building residences, roads, schools, and essential facilities in strategic states.

Vice President Shettima, addressing the theme “Securing Stability: Uniting for Peace in North-West Nigeria,” emphasized the region’s unity rooted in shared interests and common pursuits.

Katsina State Governor Umaru Radda, chair of the North West Governors’ Forum, called for a multifaceted approach to combat banditry, including robust intelligence gathering, community policing, and advanced security technology.

Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru stressed the importance of synergy between security agencies and governors, while Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, called on citizens to support government efforts.

Germany’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, and UNDP Country Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, also expressed their support for regional cooperation and traditional conflict resolution methods.