Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has emphasised the pressing need to deploy advanced technology to combat insecurity in his state and northern Nigeria in general.
Lawal, alongside nine other governors from the North-West and North-Central are currently in the United States of America for a symposium on ‘”Peace and Security,” organized by the Africa Center at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).
Speaking during a meeting with the United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C, Lawal praised the Governors for their efforts in finding a lasting solution to the persistent insecurity issues in parts of Northern Nigeria.
However, explaining the Zamfara situation to the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Lawal highlighted what he described as the crucial role that technology can play in enhancing security and the need for a coordinated effort to harness the power of technology, including the use of Artificial Intelligence, biometric identification systems, and surveillance cameras, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaiman Bala Idris.
According to the Governor, “we are here with common problems. The major challenge is insecurity and something has to be done.
“Due to insecurity, agriculture has become impossible. We need assistance in transitioning from peasant farming to advancing agriculture so that we can deploy technology to fight this insurgency.
“We hope to find solutions to these problems during these meetings. I inherited a dysfunctional state with poor development indices.
“I have declared a state of emergency in Education and Health. We must take immediate action to address these critical issues; otherwise, our future will remain bleak.
“We require significant support to overcome these challenges and ensure a better future for our people,” Lawal said.