Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has underscored the importance of strengthening the strategic alliance between the United States and Nigeria to tackle the current security challenges bedeviling some regions of the country.
Mutfwang, who is part of a delegation of Nigerian Governors, spoke at a dialogue on Peace and Security in Nigeria hosted at the United States Institute of Peace.
He appreciated the pragmatic leadership style of President Bola Tinubu, who he said has shown political will in addressing security challenges.
The governor appealed to the security agencies to redouble their efforts in discharging their constitutional responsibilities.
The symposium, with the theme ‘Drivers of Insecurity and Opportunities for Stabilization’, aims at deepening understanding of the security context, including its socio-economic dimensions, and identifying near-term opportunities for addressing instability.
The Plateau governor commended the United States Government, particularly the United States Institute of Peace, for its stabilisation support through various interventions, especially those focused on strengthening the capacity of peace actors through the Nigerian Network of Facilitators.
“I’m optimistic that the lessons learned would contribute to addressing decades of security challenges in Nigeria and Plateau State in particular,” he maintained.
The Vice President of the Africa Centre at the US Institute of Peace, Dr Joseph Sany, in his opening remarks, appreciated the Nigerian governors for attending the symposium and urged them to apply the lessons learned in their respective states.
Other Governors present at the dialogue include Uba Sani (Kaduna), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Mohammed Bago (Niger) and the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State.