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From Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
The Special Adviser to the Governor of Sokoto State on Security, Col. Ahmed Usman (Rtd), has said the Federal Government’s Safe Nigeria Initiative is a strategic intervention capable of addressing the root causes of insecurity across the country.
Col. Usman described the initiative as timely and visionary, noting that it adopts a preventive approach by focusing on vulnerable groups, particularly out-of-school youth, internally displaced young persons, and youths living in high-risk and conflict-prone communities.
According to him, the programme is designed to curb crime and violent extremism by tackling the socio-economic conditions that expose young people to insecurity.
He explained that through skills acquisition, livelihood support, psycho-social services, and civic education, the initiative offers alternatives to criminality while promoting responsible citizenship.
The security adviser commended the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) for spearheading the implementation of the programme in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, saying the collaboration reflects a coordinated and people-centred security strategy.
“The Safe Nigeria Initiative goes beyond conventional security measures. It empowers young people with hope, purpose, and the means to earn a legitimate living, while also strengthening their resilience against radicalisation and crime”
He highlighted the programme’s target of reaching 11,000 youths between the ages of 15 and 40, describing the demographic as the most critical in the fight against insecurity nationwide.
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Col. Usman stressed that investing in youth development remains fundamental to achieving sustainable peace and long-term security, adding that security cannot be achieved through force alone.
He called on state governments and local government councils to provide full support for the initiative by ensuring community participation, institutional cooperation, and an enabling environment for effective implementation.
The adviser reaffirmed the commitment of the Sokoto State Government, under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, to programmes that promote peace, youth empowerment, and inclusive development, urging all stakeholders to embrace the Safe Nigeria Initiative as a collective responsibility toward building a safer and more secure Nigeria.
