The Senior Special Assistant to Nigeria President, Bola Tinubu, on Protocol, Issa Niniola, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government remains fully engaged in addressing the country’s growing security challenges.
Niniola gave the assurance while speaking on the sidelines of the 27th Oba-Oke Day celebration held on Saturday in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State.
He described insecurity as a disturbing and pressing national concern, stressing that it has taken centre stage in government priorities, and reaffirmed that the Federal Government is not turning a blind eye to the situation.
“As it is today, insecurity has become an international concern, and I can assure you that the Federal Government is going to tackle it frontally.
“What the government has done so far may seem little in the eyes of some people, but that is not true, because insecurity is not something that can be solved in a day or two.
“It is a continuous effort that the Federal Government will sustain to ensure that kidnapping, banditry and terrorism are brought to an end in the country.
“We all know the genesis of insecurity in the country, and when it starts, it takes time to curtail it. The Federal Government is doing a lot to address it,” he said.
Niniola also said the Federal Government would continue to collaborate with other countries to tackle insecurity.
The aide added that other governments and the international community were recently collaborating and showing concern about terrorism in the country.
“Most of these terrorists—ISIS, ISWAP and others—are coming from the Sahel into Nigeria, making insecurity intractable, but I can assure Nigerians that very soon it will be a thing of the past,” he said.
Niniola, an indigene of Oba-Oke town, said the annual celebration was meant to bring together guests, sons and daughters of the town, and to raise funds for its growth and development.
The SSA, who also spoke on the August 8 governorship election in the state, expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, would emerge victorious.
In his remarks, Oyebamiji said that if elected, he would bring transformation to the town, adding that the dividends of democracy, which the town had been denied, would be restored.
“I was here last year when an appeal was made to the state government for the rehabilitation of major roads in the town and the construction of more schools, but this is yet to be done.
“But I promise that once I emerge governor of the state, all these and many others will be done,” he said.
Oyebamiji also said the Owalla Dam in the town would be upgraded and developed into one of the best tourist sites in the state.
He added that plans for the upgrade had been concluded before he left office as Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority.
Earlier, the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Adam Yusuf, appealed to the state government for more developmental projects in the town.
Yusuf also appealed to the government to assist the town in completing the abandoned primary healthcare centre, which he said commenced in 1982.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event witnessed the raising of N500 million for the construction of an ultra-modern town hall and other developmental projects in the town.
(NAN)
