Against the backdrop of the rising incidence of banditry and other criminal activities countrywide, the National Economic Council (NEC) has resolved to sanction anyone involved in crime and criminality in their respective states.
This was one of the outcomes of its meeting on Thursday held at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.
The NEC meeting was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and attended by a large number of state governors.
Ogun state Governor, Dapo Abiodun and Kebbi state Governor, Atiku Bagudu briefed State House Correspondents after the session.
Governor Abiodun said that NEC agreed that there was need to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of crimes in Nigeria no matter how highly placed.
He also said that it was unanimously agreed at the meeting that decisive actions would be taken against cross-border crimes.
He stated that it had been resolved that the Federal Government would strengthen its borders to stop bandits from entering Nigeria’s territory to commit crime and run back to where they came from.
The governor said that NEC approved holding of Stakeholders’ meeting across Nigeria like he hosted in Ogun state recently with some governors from Northern region in attendance.
This, according to him, was to foster unity.
Specifically, he said NEC also agreed that forest reserves across Nigeria must be protected while vigilance groups must operate under the Nigerian laws.
He said that Council deliberated on how forests should be better managed and secured against criminals and criminality and resolved thus:
“That State Governments have statutory jurisdiction over forest reserves and will seek federal support for efforts to eradicate forest-based crime.”
Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu said that Council set up a Committee to brainstorm on the ways to deal with the spate of insecurity in the country.
He said that Governors had agreed to do everything it would take to stem the ugly tide.
According to him: “Council received update on the General Security Situation and the Implementation of Community Policing in the states by His Excellency Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state.”
He also disclosed that NEC received the presentation on the lifting of 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years by Chairman of Presidential Economic Advisory Committee, PEAC, while the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning made a presentation on the Reviewed National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP).
He also said that NEC received presentation on the State of Voters’ Access to Polling Units in Nigeria from the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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