Francis Sardauna in Katsina
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Katsina State has renewed calls to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state over worsening insecurity.
In a statement titled: ‘Celebrating Women’s Day Amidst High Cost of Living and Insecurity’, the CSOs Chairman, AbdulRahman Abdullahi, said the president should give marching orders to security agencies to clear bandits’ enclaves in the state.
He said the nefarious activities of the bandits have become a major predicament to the socio-economic development of Katsina State, and many lives are being lost on a daily basis in the state.
Abdullahi explained that many farmers have been chased away from their farms and ancestral homes, adding that the scenario had led to increased poverty, food insecurity and many residents are being recruited into banditry in the state.
He said: “It is on the above background that the Coalition wishes to appeal for concerted and collaborative efforts in the fight against banditry in Katsina State for the restoration of peace in the state so that our farmers can go back to their farms being the only sure way of fighting hunger and starvation.
“The president should declare a state of emergency on the fight against banditry by giving a timeline within which the security operatives should clear all enclaves for the bandits in the affected states.”
He urged President Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, return fuel subsidy until the nation’s refineries have the capacity to produce enough of the petrol for domestic consumption.
According to him, the government has failed woefully in cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians and in curbing the incessant rise in prices of essential food commodities in the country.
Abdullahi called on the federal and state governments to roll out programmes and policies that will make food and other essential commodities affordable to the people, and open land borders for food importation.
“With the soaring food crisis in Nigeria and its attendant consequences, we must bitterly accept the need for food importation in the country until when the country has put in place all the necessary mechanisms for food sustenance,” he added.
