Kano security gains driven by community participation — Commissioner

The Kano state government has attributed the improvement in security across the state to increased community participation in crime prevention and sustained support for security agencies.

Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, said the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had adopted measures designed not only to strengthen security agencies but also to address the underlying causes of insecurity.

Waiya spoke on Saturday in Kaduna while receiving an Award of Excellence in Security Governance conferred on Governor Yusuf by the Institute of Security and Strategic Studies (ISSS).

He said the government recognised that security could not be achieved solely through the deployment of security personnel, stressing the importance of involving communities and other sectors of society.

According to him, the state government has therefore continued to support security agencies while promoting initiatives aimed at strengthening community involvement in preventing crime.

“Security is a shared responsibility requiring the collective efforts of government, security agencies, traditional institutions, religious leaders, civil society, the private sector, the media and citizens,” he said.

Waiya said the approach had helped create greater collaboration between government, security institutions and communities in addressing security challenges.

He added that political leadership had an important role to play in creating the conditions necessary for peace and public safety, saying the recognition of Governor Yusuf reflected the state government’s commitment to security governance.

The commissioner said the award would further encourage the administration to sustain its efforts to protect lives and property and create a secure environment for economic and social development.

He also commended ISSS for its contributions to security education, research, capacity building and stakeholder engagement, describing the areas as critical to strengthening Nigeria’s response to emerging security challenges.

Waiya reaffirmed the government’s readiness to deepen collaboration with security agencies, traditional and religious institutions, communities, professional bodies and other stakeholders to consolidate security gains in Kano state.