The Kaduna State Government says it is open to new ideas on ways to address the lingering security challenges across the state.
The state Acting Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe made this known on Tuesday in Kaduna when she received participants of Advance Defence Intelligence Course 13, of the Defence Intelligence College, Abuja, who were on study tour of Kaduna State.
She said that the government had taken steps toward combating crime and insecurity in urban and rural areas of the state, including deploying technology to meet the dynamic scope of the challenges.
Balarabe urged the participants to provide novel ideas to curb insecurity that has bedeviled the state and Nigeria as a whole.
“The quest for security is something that is dear to our heart, we are willing to work with everyone that can give us ideas on how to go about the situation on ground, by getting completely new ideas to do better,” she said.
The acting governor said that peace is important to the growth and development of any nation.
“When we ensure security, we are providing that environment that guarantees purposeful development while also enhancing economic growth, wealth creation and social integration,” she added.
Earlier, Commandant of the College, Cdr. Mike Oamen, said that the advance defence intelligence course was to prepare senior intelligence officers from the military and paramilitary for leadership positions as they grow in the service.
Oamen explained that the study tour has as its theme, ”Consolidating the gains of intelligence in curbing banditry for enhancing national security of Nigeria”.
According to him, it was part of the course requirements for the participants to undertake research on very topical and contemporary security issues in the country.
“Kaduna State was carefully selected considering the critical and prime position the state occupies in the security architecture of Nigeria.
“For the next three days, they will be looking at the efforts of the government, which has been commendable, in containing the issue of banditry as it affects the security of Kaduna State,” Oamen said.
He added that the students will use the opportunity to consolidate on the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom as they interact with key players on the field.
The Commandant said that at the end of the tour, the officers will make recommendations based on their research, which will be submitted to the state government.
