Report by Editor.
The Nasarawa State Government has concluded plans tobeef up security patrols around both the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA) and the Nasarawa State University Keffi (Keffi).
This is part of efforts towards curtailing the activities of criminals.
Governor Abdullahi Sule made this known when he visited the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, to commiserate with the institution over the Monday night incidence in Gandu.
Governor Sule said his administration will continue to put in its best towards ensuring that criminals are not allowed to run freely and to perpetrate their nefarious activities not only around institutions of learning but across the length and breadth of the state.
“We don’t wait until there is a problem before we take action. We have been working round the clock on the area of security. But as you all know, security has become a major concern not only in Nasarawa State but Nigeria as a whole.
“Nonetheless, it’s not an excuse for us to fold our arms but to continue to put in our best and support the citizens who live in this state not only those who live around the university but the totality of our people around the state,” he stated.
The Governor expressed willingness to establish security presence in some of the students villages, especially Gandu which has transformed into a major settlement.
He explained that even though security does not come cheaply, his administration is willing to go the extra mile in protecting lives and property of the people, adding that no amount of money could buy life.
While promising to complete the ongoing construction of a student hostel donated to the university by the state government, which is presently at 80 percent completion, Governor Sule directed the Acting Commissioner of Police in the state, to visit some of the victims of the incidence at the hospital with a view to supporting them.
He also commended the management of the university for setting up a formidable security committee to manage security situations in the institution.
Governor Sule however called on the security committee to further spread its awareness campaigns for people to know when to report suspicious movements that could lead to the breech of security.
Earlier in his address, Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, while appreciating Governor Sule for commiserating with the institution, requested for the deployment of security patrols around students villages to deter criminals from carrying out their nefarious activities in the area.
Professor Abdul Rahman took the opportunity to highlight on the steps being taken by the management of the institution to address insecurity, including the establishment of a security committee with members drawn from across security agencies, as well as members of the communities surrounding the university.
“We don’t just wait until we have problems like for us to be thinking of tackling it. We felt that being proactive is cheaper than being reactive. We have been synergizing with the Nigeran Police and we attend to their request,” the Vice Chancellor said.
He equally called on the Governor to assist the university by completing the ongoing construction of the hostel donated by the state government, which is presently at 80 percent completion, which would reduce the number of students living outside the university.
