The technical committee of G-7 states, comprising FCT and its six neighbouring states, have met in Abuja to develop strategies to tackle cross-border security challenges.

The committee comprised security chiefs of the FCT, Benue, Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau States.

They are commissioners of police, state directors of the State Security Service (SSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps commandants.

The permanent secretary of the FCT Administration, Olusade Adesola, said at the opening of the meeting on Wednesday that the G-7 provides an opportunity for intelligence gathering, sharing and joint-border operations.

Mr Adesola, represented by Ishaq Sadeeq, acting secretary, Agric and Rural Development Secretariat, FCTA, said the security chiefs convened the meeting to tackle the recent upsurge of criminal elements traversing the FCT and member states.

He said the G-7 states would periodically hold joint meetings to appraise the prevailing security challenges and articulate an agenda of action for implementation.

Mr Adesola charged committee members to develop adaptable strategies in combating cross-border crimes and deploy the same for the safety and security of the FCT and the neighbouring states.

Earlier, the committee chairman, Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Haruna Garba, said the G-7 was initiated in 2007 by the then Minister of the FCT, Modibbo Umar.

“The idea was for the states to pull their resources, both man and materials, together to fight the criminals simultaneously,” he said.

The commissioner stressed that the G7 platform provided a unique opportunity to reinforce collective efforts and chart a way forward for better results.

He said this would mitigate threats to the collective survival of the FCT and the contiguous state and prevent future ones.

Also, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Adebowale Williams, stressed the need for community partnership in addressing security challenges peculiar to the G-7 member states.

Similarly, the Director of the FCT Security Services Department, Adamu Gwary, said the G-7 initiative would strengthen collective efforts to fight security challenges, particularly cross-border crime.

(NAN)