Efforts of the Plateau State Government under Governor Simon Bako
Lalong towards placing the state in the right direction towards
achieving sustainable peace is becoming more glaring.
But more encouraging is the buy-in by the citizenry into the project
in ways that would create the environment for growth and development
which the state government has made one of its cardinal objectives.
There have been more than a few contributions lately but the recent
visit of the COCIN leadership to President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock
Villa led by Rev Dr. Dachollom Datiri on Monday, November 5, 2018
deserves a mention.
The visit coming at this time lends credence to the fact that the
Lalong administration is not only willing but eager to join hands with
the people in the various communities and organizations to look for
solutions to the continuos threat to peace in the state while also
showing that it is determined to resolve the issues using genuine means
including collaborative efforts with individuals and organizations.
By making a case for the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs,
scattered in several locations in the state, the COCIN president has
succeeded in reiterating the point the state government as well as other
well-spirited individuals and organizations have been making to
highlight the urgency of the unfortunate situation the state has found
itself.
Instructively, the state government has not undervalued the
contributions from these well spirited individuals and organizations but
has encouraged such viewing them as complementary efforts meant to
ease the sufferings of its people.
This is even as the state government has been working through a high
powered committee to resettle the distressed and heartbroken in their
ancestral homes and has done much to reassure them that government is
not only concerned about their welfare but will go beyond that to equip
them with entrepreneurial and other skills for survival.
While the government has continued to encourage such partnership, it
must be stated that the commitment of the state government in meeting
the needs of the camps of internally displaced persons has not waned as
is evident in the Technical Report of the Committee on Internally
Displace Persons which was submitted to the Plateau State Government on
November 12, 2018.
The resolve by government to do more has been exemplified in the
regular dialogues between the government and other critical stakeholders
supported by the fact that such dialogues between the people and
communities have enabled the government take certain measures and
actions.
One of the notable areas the state devoted its energies is the
establishment of a peace building agency. The agency and other critical
stakeholders have been working round the clock proffering solutions in
the areas which have brought misunderstanding and had led to crises in
some of the local government areas.
Also worthy of note is the genuine efforts engaged in the training of
500 neighbourhood personnel attached to the Operation Rainbow in order
to have the agency’s personnel deployed for community policing and
intelligence gathering to stem the tide of the restiveness as well as
what has become commonly referred to as land grabbing of the ancestral
lands of communities that have been affected by the crises.
Steps have also been taken to ensure communities live in peace with
one another as can be observed by the fact that the state government
took to catering for the welfare of the people. It (state government)
believes that no amount can be too much to spend to guarantee the safety
of lives and property of its citizens.
It can be recalled that following the wave of insecurity occasioned
by the attacks on communities, the state benefited from a ground
breaking project for the establishment of 66 Mobile Police Force (MPF)
Squadron at Longvel, Shendam Local Government Area by the Inspector
General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.
The establishment of the Squadron Mobile Unit would by all means
increase and improve the existing security infrastructure in the state
for the purpose of providing adequate security for human lives and
properties.
That novel effort of the establishment of PMF 66 Squadron in Shendam
is one of the strategies to ensure that the Nigeria Police is at all
times within reach, and able to respond to the challenges of crime
confronting the people. That singular initiative is not by accident but a
deliberate attempt to fight crime and criminality in communities as a
result of the crises.
The efforts by the state governor did not go unnoticed as the
Inspector General of Police has since appreciated Governor Simon Lalong
for donating 51 patrol vehicles to security agencies in the 17 local
government areas. The 51 patrol vehicles were donated by the state
government in collaboration with the local governments.
Equally, the collaboration would not end with the police as the
Nigerian Air Force has established a special operations command unit,
combat search and rescue group in Plateau State as part of efforts in
providing rapid response to security challenges in and around the North
east and North West regions of the country.
It was the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar who said
the current security situation in the country requires the establishment
of the new unit that will respond to crisis areas in the northern parts
of the state, as well as enhance the civil/military relationship.
To facilitate that initiative the Nigerian Air Force resolved to
provide aerial coverage for effective security ground operation across
the country, the 205 combat search and rescue group has been established
in Kerang, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State in the north
central region of Nigeria.
Without sounding political, Governor Simon Bako Lalong at the closing
ceremony and finals of the peace football tournament organised by the
special task force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Jos that said, ‘I
would not rest until lasting peace is restored in Plateau’. It is the
responsibility of the Plateau state Government not to rest in its quest
to bringing lasting peace in the state.
Giving these measures it is only natural that residents of the state
should be responsive to this cause by contributing to the peace process
in all communities. Every resident of Plateau must contribute to the
peaceful communal life the state was known for. The intensification of
vigilance and community participation would stem the tide of the stage
some communities in the state have come to be labeled.
The approval granted the state for the establishment of Police Mobile
Force Squadron at Gashish, Barkin Ladi LGA, is to promptly respond to
distress calls within the axis as several communities in the area have
been embroiled in crises that have claimed several lives.
This principally was the reason Governor Lalong requested for the
establishment of the Mobile Squadron unit to maintain peace in such
volatile communities. While presenting the approval letter, DIG Habila
Joshak, said ten units which is about six hundred and thirty personnel
would be deployed to the new squadron when facilities are available.
The point being made and reiterated by government is that there has
been huge government intervention in the area of peace and the welfare
of those affected. The government is aware that a lot of government
interventions in terms of relief materials have been made available to
camps and communities so the only way out is a shared commitment as only
that could surmount the challenges confronting the people.
This government has shown responsibility in not allowing the deaths
and losses suffered by the people go in vain and the process for
sustainable peace can only be consummated through a reciprocal gesture
by the citizens.
Hon Yakubu Dati,
Hon Commissioner for Information and Communications,
Plateau State, Nigeria.