Damaturu – The new National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, said the Federal Government would give top priority to dialogue and negotiation to tackle the current security challenges in the country.
Dasuki stated this in Damaturu on Thursday, when he paid a courtesy visit on Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam, at the Government House.
He said that government was committed to working with all stakeholders to bring a final solution to the prevailing security challenges posed by insurgency.
“If one considers the colossal collateral damages these confrontations cause due to the unconventional methods of the insurgents, the option of resolution through dialogue and negotiation should be pursued as a priority.
“Government is committed to bringing an end to the security challenges and there is the need to put heads together to bring a final end to the situation as we want to go back to normalcy and, move forward,” the NSA said.
Dasuki said that there would be no development, employment and progress in the face of violence.
“I do not see how anybody is benefiting out of this,” he further said.
In his remarks, Gaidam urged the Federal Government to consider the option of dialogue and negotiation to provide solution to the security challenges.
The governor called on the Federal Government to introduce special welfare packages for security men “in the event of death, injury and accidents while on duty”.
He commended the professionalism and gallantry of the Joint Task Force team during the four major attacks on Damaturu in less than one year.
Gaidam said that their sacrificial efforts had succeeded in reducing casualties.
He said that the state government expended more than N40 million monthly as ration cash allowance for officers and men of the police and other security agencies.
He said “this excludes funds spent on the army and their logistics”. (NAN)
Culled from vanguardngr.com