By Abdallah el-KurebeThe Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru has observed that Nigeria's quest for national integration and sustainable development was undermined by the menace of insecurity.
He made the observation at the opening of the 5th Annual Conference of the University's Faculty of Social Science held at the Auditorium on Tuesday.
According to him, "The concerns of ravaging insurgency, militancy, ethno-religious and communal violence have compromised Nigeria's developmental dreams."
He stressed that UDUS, which he described as the nation's most peaceful university, was ready to provide platforms for scholars across the country to discuss and proffer solutions that could tackle the menace of insecurity for national integration and sustainable development.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal said at the occasion that the theme, “Security, National Integration and the Challenges of Development in Nigeria," was not only timely but critical to any effort at rebuilding the society and taking the country to a better place.
"Without doubt, insecurity is the most daunting challenge undermining the growth and development of Nigeria as a nation. As the Chief Executive and by implication the Chief Security Officer of the State, a gathering of this nature is very necessary in enhancing our understanding of the dynamic and complex requirements of the challenges that could inhibit sustainable peace and security in the state," the governor said.
He noted that because of the various forms of security challenges facing the Nigerian state, the last five years have seen the divertion of "the resources meant for the development of key and strategic sectors of the Nigerian economy and society to the challenges of security at various levels.
"This diversion and the erosion of confidence of foreign investors have impacted negatively on Nigeria’s drive to sustainable economic growth and development," he further noted.
Tambuwal expressed confidence that the conference would "provide the avenue for social scientists to examine the factors and forces responsible for Nigeria’s drift to a state of mounting insecurity and the implications for national integration and development."
He assured that governments at both the Federal and State levels were alive to their responsibilities of providing adequate security for the much desired sustainable political and socio-economic change in Nigeria.
"The turn of events in the last two months attest to the commitment and resolve of the present government to liberate the country from all these security challenges as various arms of our security forces are being repositioned to reduce our nation's battered image," the governor stated.
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