By Uthman Salami
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare state of emergency in Kaduna and Plateau to stem the spate of unrest plaguing the
This is made known in a letter to the President, Muhammadu Buhari where they explicitly expressed their displeasure and frustrations over what they described as wave of unending security challenges facing Nigeria.
Despite commending the military personel who have continuously made sacrifices in making Nigerian better secured, the group believes that much needs be done.
They charged the President to endure the provision of adequate equipment and better welfare, which they said are necessary to boosting the morale of the officers combating the menace.
In the letter signed by Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, the General Secretary and Comrade Festus Osifo President of the association, said the wave of various degrees of insecurity has adversely affected the operations of their members, claiming that “We have therefore, chosen this means to join millions of Nigerians to demand that you deploy the powers vested on you by the Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria to immediately put an end to the myriad of senseless and unprovoked killings of our brothers and sisters under whatever guise.
“As a responsible Association whose activities are vital for the economic development of our dear Country, we cannot sit back and watch miscreants masquerading under the togas of ethnic militias, regional or religious armies destroy the only Country we can proudly call our own.
“We pledge our readiness to partner with you in your continued efforts to improve the security and general welfare of the Nigerian citizens.”
The letter partly read; “Specifically, we are worried about the increasing attacks by bandits and other criminal elements on Institutions in the Zones where majority of our members live and work i.e., Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.
“Recently States under Port Harcourt and Kaduna Zones were on the front burner with news of security threats, attacks, and killings. We must unequivocally restate the importance of these Zones to the economic development and industrial peace of the Nation and therefore must be protected at all costs.”
They added that “Consequently, your fatherly disposition to the issues raised hereunder will go a long way to allay their fears and reassure them that their concerns are being handled at the highest level of Governance.”
According to them, “the Kaduna carnage is more worrisome given the fact that there are an array of military and para-military institutions scattered all over its nooks and crannies.
“Educational institutions in the State are also enmeshed in the murky water of the unending security threats in the land. Armed gangs have repeatedly struck some schools and universities, abducting more than 700 students.”
The group indulged the President to declare state of emergency as well as adopt a total overhaul of all the security apparatus within the states of Kaduna and Plateau to wipe out all criminal elements especially in Southern Kaduna.
“We also demand that the States should be empowered with a special Police Force that will enable them take charge of security issues in their domain as the era of centralized policing is outdated. The States should be empowered to take charge of their security.”
They observed that the current insecurity will widen the food shortage of not properly checked.
They said, “To further buttress the looming dangers ahead, farmers in states such as Benue, Plateau, Katsina, Nasarawa and Taraba cannot readily access their farms due to several security challenges. It is necessary to secure the farmlands and the farmers who work on the land as the aggregate food production by the local farmers is the bedrock on which our food security systems rests.”
They urged the president to offer those engaged in all forms of food production value chain the necessary protection to continue the assiduous work to feed Nigerians, adding that it is not out of place for the involvement of the Military in daily patrols to protect this important industry.
They called on government at all levels to initiate programmes and policies geared at improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria and allow private investors with the resources and technical knowhow to invest in hitherto designated State-owned establishments.