Ahmad Tijjani Yau Community leader and ward head, Kano
The belated town hall meeting convened by the National Security Adviser is laudable. Security is about the people, and policing is everybody’s business. There is nothing I think is wrong when you ask people to come and discuss how to secure the country.
To achieve the aim behind the town hall meeting that was held, they should do follow-up meetings where all stakeholders will come to discuss, engage themselves and further strategize on the issues behind the security challenges. So, the town hall meeting is good and their discussions, if properly addressed, will help a lot.
Also, we need more such town hall meetings so that Nigerians can release their pent-up anger and frustration. This is crucial to solving the problem of insecurity in Nigeria.
Ibrahim Garba Mariam, Civil rights activist and member, Kano State Civil Society Forum
In my opinion, the town hall meeting was good. It will help to tackle the problem. But, what we need now after the town hall meeting called by the NSA, is action.
I must note that there is a gap in communication and trust between the communities and the government. But in this case, the town hall meeting and the recommendations that were made will be beneficial in bridging the gap created by lack of trust and breakdown of communication between aggrieved ethnic communities, groups and the government.
We need more town hall meetings for regional grievances to be discussed and tabled for them to be addressed. Town hall meetings help us to address sectional grievances. After listening to aggrieved regions, we should go back to the documents compiled at the last conference convened by the federal government under President Goodluck Jonathan.
They should have reached out to the grassroots. Holding a town hall meeting to confront the security challenges in the country at the peak of power will not yield the anticipated dividends.
You don’t engage the people from the outside; they should have gone round the states, senatorial districts and even local government councils, and the deliberations would have trickled down to those who wear the shoes and know where they pinch.
Dr. James Oizamesi Adanini, Medical practitioner and public affairs commentator
Well, the security issue seems to be overwhelming the country. As for the town hall meeting, it is not going to solve the lingering issues, but it should at least bring up solutions or way forward on some of the challenges. To me, it is better late than never.
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And it is also better if we table our challenges, rather than shying away from them. In brainstorming, we find answers, and our fears are conquered. This insecurity matter affects all of us together. Even the president is not spared, because as he reads about them in the newspapers or through briefings, he will certainly not be comfortable.
This is getting out of hand. We need solutions that can add value to life in the country. We don’t have another country or nation to call our own.
Nigerians are gradually becoming strangers in communities they have lived and survived all these years. This is sad and unfortunate. The town hall should go ahead and fashion out workable methods and strategies in arresting the security problems.
Tolani Mohammed Self-employed, Abuja
To me, the security town hall meeting called by the NSA is a bit belated. Where were the service chiefs when the security matter got worse? Many Nigerians have lost their lives. Is it because those close to the power were not affected? Or is it because they have a good security cover that prevented them of been kidnapped?
Nigerians have never had it worst, security-wise, as far as I know. But, by and large, it is better to discuss and find lasting solution to the security challenges than go into war.
My advice is that, at the town hall meeting, Nigerians should be given opportunity to vent their minds. There should be no preferential treatment for anybody or group. The truth must be told at the meeting, to really find a lasting solution to the security quagmire we have found ourselves.
Johnson Michael Artist, Abuja
Dialogue is very important. No matter what happens, dialogue can make things better. Like the saying, “We jaw-jaw, not war-war”, the NSA security chiefs’ town hall meeting is to be is a right step in a right direction; it is not belated.
The country is tilting towards a dangerous path, which is ethnic coloration. Every effort must be made to ensure that the security challenges that exist now in the country are well managed.
Osaro Lawrence, Student
The town hall meeting cannot have come at a better time than now that there is a change of guards in the service chiefs.
There is no doubt that dialogue goes a long way in settling conflicts. We expect everybody to be carried along in the task of overhauling the security architecture in the country.
