By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
With the growing state of banditry and general insecurity in the country, Kwara and Niger States are collaborating to strengthen security efforts.
Kwara governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who dropped this hint at the state cabinet meeting in Ilorin said the collaboration would help to ensure adequate protection of lives and properties in the two states.
The governor expressed grave concerns over reports of degradation of Multi-Billion Naira natural endowments by criminal elements in parts of Baruten Local Government in the northern flank of Kwara sharing close borders with Niger.
He said he would reach out to his Niger state counterpart for maximum security collaborations to put an end to the criminal activities.
AbdulRazaq disclosed that both Kwara and Niger accounted for 60 percent of Shea butter production in the country but regretted that deforestation activities by some of these criminal elements in parts of the state constituted serious danger to preservation of natural endowments both states have.
For instance, the governor lamented the increasing exportation of firewood and charcoal from the state stressing that the state government would deepen mass enlightenment on the use of gas in place of firewood and charcoal to protect the forests.
He also called on the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to also deem it necessary to work towards bringing down the cost of cooking gas to make it more affordable to the citizenry as a sustainable alternative to cooking with fire wood.
The Governor who at the cabinet meeting sworn in three new members of the State Executive Council charged them to team up with their old colleagues in strengthening governance and working towards meeting the expectations of the people of the state in spite of a dwindling resources.
His words: “It is not yet time for full-blown party politics. Let’s concentrate on governance, full blown politics will come later.”
Rather, the governor called on all the State Executive Council members to be proactive on Security and developmental issues in their respective Local Government Areas and communities.