Yemi Akinsuyi/
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has assured the nation that the Force remains committed to deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in tackling crimes and criminality towards boosting public safety, public health, and security in the country.
The IGP made this known Tuesday during the flag-off of the One – Nigerian – One – Tree, National Tree Planting Initiative, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Noting that there is a strong connection between climate change and internal security, the Police boss observed that human activities, including desertification, deforestation, and other elements of climate change, are major drivers of poverty, crimes, and insecurity generally.
He added that the intense rivalry and competition for natural resources between farmers and herders occasioned by climate change was at the root of some of the violent clashes, not only in Nigeria but across the sub-Sahara and the Sahel region.
He commended the organizers of the program, the Greater Nigeria Initiative, and expressed his belief that the initiative, which constitutes one of the non-kinetic approaches of the Force in combating crime, would assist in proactively responding and addressing the increasingly broadened and complex security threats in the country.
The IGP pledged the commitment of the Force to the Twenty-Five Million Tree Planting Initiative of the Federal Government, assuring that the exercise would be replicated across all zonal and state commands towards addressing the alarming deforestation challenges occasioned by climate change, building an eco-friendly environment for peaceful co-existence among the citizens and enhancing national security.
While thanking the array of dignitaries present at the occasion, the convener of the One-Nigerian – One-Tree Planting Initiative, Mrs. Dada Ismaila Mukhtar Harilu said tree planting was showing where lives would be heading towards.
She said: “The oxygen we breathe is because of the trees in our neighborhood. Oxygen gives life and without it, we are all dead.”
She added that getting the security agencies involved in tree planting was meant to put an end to the menace of farmers-herders clashes, which she blamed on climate change that has been one of the reasons why herders move from one place to the other.
Mrs. Mukhtar called for more tree planting by Nigerians.
Other Dignitaries and guests at the program included the representatives of the Honourable Ministers of Police Affairs, Environment and the Federal Capital Territory, respectively, Members of the Force Management Team, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Zone-7 Headquarters, Abuja, The Commissioner of Police FCT Command, the Sa-peyi of Garki, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Usman Nga Kupi, officials of Greater Nigeria Initiative, staff and students of Government Junior Secondary School, Apo, amongst others.
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