Vice President Kashim Shettima has pledged the Federal Government’s commitment to securing and developing Nigeria’s border communities to improve the lives of residents and the security situation in the country.
He also blamed the proliferation of small arms and light weapons on the porousness of border communities.
“Our border communities feel alienated from the rest of the country because of neglect. If we can get development into our border communities, the pressure on the centre will reduce,” Shettima said when he received a delegation from the Border Communities Development Agency at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the VP stressed the importance of border communities on national security and pledged continued support for their development needs.
The statement is titled ‘We must do more to secure our border communities against incursions – VP Shettima.’
The Vice President stated, “Most of the challenges we face stem from our poor border security evident in the free flow of light weapons and ammunition across the border. We need to address the role of the BCDA in changing the security landscape of our country.”
He acknowledged the need for residents to feel a sense of belonging as Nigerians and assured of the government’s commitment to improving access to healthcare and other essential services for the residents of these communities.
Shettima also urged the BCDA to develop a roadmap for strengthening the agency, highlighting the need for increased government funding.
The agency’s Executive Secretary, Junaid Abdullahi, acknowledged the challenges of limited resources and expressed hope that under Shettima’s leadership, the agency would receive the necessary support to fulfil its mandate.
Abdullahi said, “Our border communities feel alienated from the rest of the country because of neglect. If we can get development into our border communities, the pressure on the centre will be reduced. We would have reduced rural-urban migration and also addressed most of our security challenges.
“Under your chairmanship, we believe that following your antecedent as Governor of Borno State, we are sure you will give us the needed support to see that our agency is funded to carry out its mandate.”
