Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for proactive and coordinated measures to address the country’s evolving security challenges, emphasising the need for foresight, collaboration, and early response to emerging threats. 

Mr Shettima made the call at the Kogi State Security Summit and the N500 billion trust fund-raising in Abuja on Tuesday.

Represented by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Ahmadu, Mr Shettima said nations must anticipate dangers before they escalate, noting that effective security management requires collective vigilance and timely action.

He commended Governor Ahmed Ododo for convening the summit, calling it a demonstration of urgency, foresight and commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

“Kogi State occupies a strategic position as a gateway connecting different regions of the country. While this is an advantage, it also comes with significant security responsibilities that require careful planning and coordination,” he said.

The vice president noted that Nigeria inherited a complex security landscape shaped by years of neglect, economic pressures, communal tensions and criminal activities, warning against complacency amid increasingly organised and adaptive threats.

He reaffirmed that security remains a top priority under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, adding that efforts were ongoing to strengthen both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, including improved intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration and peace-building initiatives.

According to him, initiatives such as the Kogi security summit complement federal efforts by integrating local knowledge, community participation and institutional partnerships.

He added that plans were underway to establish strategic logistics bases across the state’s three senatorial districts to enhance coordination and rapid response.

Mr Shettima stressed that security is a collective responsibility, urging stakeholders, including traditional rulers, security agencies, and the private sector, to collaborate to confront threats.

He expressed optimism that the summit would serve as a model for proactive leadership, collaboration and sustainable peace-building across the country.

In his address, Mr Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, describing it as its most sacred responsibility.

He said the summit was a critical call to action and an opportunity for stakeholders to renew their shared responsibility to secure the state and safeguard its future.

“Security is the foundation of development. Without peace, investment cannot thrive, communities cannot grow, and aspirations for prosperity will remain unattainable,” he said.

Mr Ododo noted that the security landscape has grown more complex, with crimes evolving from conventional patterns to more sophisticated threats such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and cybercrime, requiring innovative and coordinated responses.

He acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, for laying the foundation of the state’s current security architecture, as well as the support of President Tinubu in strengthening national security through intelligence-led strategies.

Also speaking, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Nasir Kankarfi, called for leveraging the North Central Development Commission’s development mandate to strengthen institutional frameworks and facilitate the disbursement of security funding.

He said this could support the procurement and deployment of advanced technologies, including drones, surveillance cameras and modern communication systems.

The summit attracted governors, including Gov. Biodun Oyebanji and his Edo State counterpart, Monday Okpebholo, as well as traditional rulers, security agencies and other stakeholders. 

(NAN)