Our Security Architecture Should Be Restructured — Ahmed Lawan

The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has described the security architecture in Nigeria as a failed system that has to be overhauled and reconstructed.

Lawan believes that for things to go well in Nigeria, restructuring the security architecture is highly compulsory because it is currently in a very bad state.

According to him, the security of the lives and property of Nigerians is vital at federal, state and local level, and all hands must be on deck to make it a reality.

He added that the senate owe Nigerians the responsibility to intervene and unite with the executive arm of government for the development of the country.

His words, “We have had series of engagements before but the escalation now has made it mandatory that we have a definite position as a government because we just cannot play politics with security issues.

“Lives are being wasted. Therefore, the Senate will take a position on how security in the country should be. We believe that the security architecture should be restructured.

“We believe that the security architecture should be restructured. The present system does not appear to give us the type of outcome we need. Whether it is the federal, state or local government; even the traditional rulers or others, the most important thing is to secure the lives and property of Nigerians and we must do that.

“Apparently and obviously, all hands must be on deck to ensure that we bring back a better security situation like we had before.

“Presently, the story is not good in many areas, so much is happening that is destabilising our communities, killing of our people and we believe that we owe Nigerians the responsibility to intervene and work with the executive arm of government, actually to work together with other tiers of government, the states and local governments to ensure that we change the way we approach security issues in the country.

“The present arrangement is not working effectively and efficiently and we have to do something, and this time around, there shouldn’t be buck passing, we have to be forthright, we have to say it as it is, and we have to do it as it is required.”