An elder statesman and chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Tanko Yakasai, has said that tackling the magnitude of the security challenges currently facing the country requires the commitment of all Nigerians and international collaboration.

Mr Yakasai stated this while speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Sunday.

He said the government alone cannot tackle the problem, stressing that it can only be surmounted with the citizens’ active support and the international community’s collaboration.

Mr Yakasai said citizens must collaborate with security agencies in terms of intelligence gathering, while other countries should help check the sources of arms and ammunition supply and financing of terrorist groups.

“The problems of security in Nigeria have taken a universal dimension. What the government should do is to take a critical review of the problem to draw more workable plans to tackle the challenges.

“Government should know the number of security personnel, weapons and other logistics they need and even exceed the plan in order to get good results at the end of the day,” he said.

Mr Yakasai said the majority of the citizens were committed to one Nigeria, adding that if the right thing was done, the government could get the needed support to tackle the problem.

He stated that the problems of terrorism, banditry and agitation by some sections of the country had different root causes that equally needed different solutions.

”Even the United Kingdom, China and India all have their internal challenges, and what is important is patriotism on the part of the citizens,” he said.

On the performance of the 10th National Assembly, the elder statesman said the lawmakers were doing their best.

Speaking on the gale of defections by some politicians, especially at the National Assembly, Mr Yakasai described politics as a very dynamic game.

“You see how people are changing parties; it started one, two, three and now it’s gathering momentum. They are now in hundreds, leaving their parties and joining others.

“What is important now is for Nigerians to be very watchful and know where the pendulum will eventually swing. The masses should be careful about who to support,” he said. 

(NAN)