The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has implored President Bola Tinubu to deploy progressive security and economic policies to combat the increasing insecurity across the nation.
Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, the association’s President, conveyed this message while condemning the recent bandit attacks on villages in Plateau State in their New Year statement.
With an estimated death toll of 200 citizens, the NBA, as the umbrella organization for legal practitioners, condemned the recent attacks. Additionally, the legal body expressed deep concern regarding a prior military drone strike on Tudun Biri in Kaduna State, resulting in the loss of over 100 lives.
Describing the incidents as inexcusable and unacceptable, the NBA President, said: ‘From information made available by the military and other security sources, the Tudun Biri incident is suggestive of the gap in our security architecture – lack of inter-agency synergy and coordination, while the attack in Plateau is clearly indicative of poor intelligence gathering or, a deliberate failure to act despite the intelligence on the impending attacks on the villages, or notice of the attack on the villages by the bandits, as reported by community leaders.’
Stressing the importance of commitment, he called on the President Tinubu-led government to visibly demonstrate its dedication to prioritizing the security of Nigerians’ lives and properties.
‘Government, through our Armed Forces and other security agencies, must ensure that no square inch of the Nigerian territory is left ungoverned; no part of Nigeria should be left under the control of criminal elements by whatever name so called. Government must make deliberate investment in security, of such a scale and magnitude, which will leave Nigerians in no doubt as to the sincerity of the statement made by the President.’
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‘The Federal Government must adopt a wholistic approach to the issue of security while not overlooking the peculiarities of each region and design bespoke measures to deal with them.’
‘In this wise, the government must neither be ‘scared’ nor ‘ashamed’ to make the right investments in security, in line with global trends in security, without compromising our sovereignty.’
On the state of the economy, the NBA President called on the government to put in place additional measures to address the ensuing and increasing difficulties associated with the subsidy removal.
While acknowledging the commitment by the administration of President Tinubu, to, amongst other things, adopt fiscal measures that will promote domestic production and lessen import dependency, undertake budgetary reforms that will stimulate the economy without engendering inflation and improve on the generation and transmission of electricity, Mr. Maikyau stressed that ‘with the passing of the 2024 Budget by the National Assembly, it is now left for Mr. President to demonstrate to Nigerians that these are not mere rhetoric.’
According to him, ‘Nigerians need to be reassured that their sacrifices would count for something, and genuine efforts are being made to ensure that their pain and suffering will be short-lived.’
The NBA President, in the statement that was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the association, Akorede Habeeb Lawal, tasked ‘government at all levels to show demonstrable respect for its social contract with the people of Nigeria by adopting and implementing people-oriented policies and programmes, which align with sustainable development ideals and principles.’
He advocated for the government to implement bold security and economic measures, aiming to tackle the growing issues of inequality and instability in the polity. Additionally, he urged deliberate steps to construct a society that caters to the needs of all Nigerians.
The NBA President asserted that, as the guardian of the Nigerian people, the association will not evade its responsibility in holding the government accountable.