Rejig security architecture, Diri tells FG

…says insecurity worse now than in 2015

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has said insecurity is worse than it was in 2015 when the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over power in the country.

The governor called on Federal Government to double its effort at combating insecurity, particularly in the northern part of the country.

He stated this, yesterday, during separate courtesy visits of heads of some security agencies to Government House in Yenagoa.

Speaking when he received the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Bayelsa Command, Mr. Sunday James, the governor said: “I use this opportunity to again call on the Federal Government to do something. These are the same issues that led to the APC government coming to power in 2015.

“I am sure you will agree that things are worse now than in 2015. The Federal Government has to redouble its effort. When one part of the country is sick, it affects other parts. Kaduna and other states in the North are sick security-wise and it is affecting other parts of the country.

“Nigeria is very close to Thomas Hobbes’ ‘state of nature where life is described as nasty, brutish and short. The Federal Government has to do something to keep us away from the Hobbesian state.”

Earlier, the Comptroller explained that the visit was to formally present himself as the new helmsman of the service in the state.

DIRI equally charged the new Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, to collaborate with the state government in curbing oil theft, illegal bunkering, kidnapping and related crimes in the maritime domain of the state.

He acknowledged that having served in the Command in other capacities, Abbas would contribute significantly towards sustaining peace and development of the state.

While congratulating him on his appointment, the governor urged him and his officers to discharge their duties with a high sense of professionalism and not to allow themselves to be influenced by partisan politics.

Abbas said his visit was to officially present himself to the governor following his posting to head the Command.

IN another development, the state command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) decorated Diri as Ambassador Against Drug Abuse.

The NDLEA state Commandant, Aminu Ali, conferred the honour on the governor when he led other members of the agency to introduce himself as the new head of the command.

Ali said the decision to decorate Diri was borne out of his relentless effort and support to the command in checking the menace of illicit drugs among youths.

Responding, Diri thanked the NDLEA for the honour, stressing that the fight against drug abuse and crime would not be compromised in the state.