The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi 11 has raised the alarm over population explosion in the northern part of the country, describing it as an imminent security threat, worse than Boko Haram insurgency.
The Emir who spoke at opening ceremony of a three-day International Conference entitled Insurgency and the Phenomenon of Boko Haram in Nigeria, organized by Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue, Bayero University, Kano in collaboration with Kano state Government and International Institute of Islamic Thought (Nigeria office), said there was need to grow the economy to carter to address the demographic explosion.
Sanusi expressed fear that in the next 20 years, Nigeria will have 100 million people between the ages of 20 and 40 years who are expected to be gainfully employed, adding that, “if you don’t brace up the economy, if you don’t address the demographic explosion, especially in northern Nigeria—Boko Haram will be a child’s play compared to what will happen.”
He wondered how such population of young people would survive in a shaky economy.
Sanusi also blamed the proliferation of insurgency and radicalism to the inability of the Federal Government to regulate religious preaching and teaching.
“We need to regulate religion. You cannot just stand up in Saudi Arabia and Iraq and start preaching without permission. How do you regulate religion without infringing on freedom of worship,” he added.
Also speaking, President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Interior, General Abdulraman Dambazau said his administration is committed to end Boko Haram insurgency.
“It will be an understatement to say that the unprecedented insurgency and the phenomenon of Boko Haram has been a source of pain, anguish and agony to the immediate victims and the larger Nigerian society since it started in 2002, especially, after its explosion in 2009.
“Some of the episodes are too painful to recall, including the unfortunate destruction of schools and the adoption of school girls. I commend the efforts of my fellow Nigerian citizens who opened their hearts and their homes to take in the victims.
“The present administration is determined to end the insurgency, and eliminate the acute suffering of the victims. A great of technological and socio-economic change continue to impact on our society. We must ask ourselves – how do we safeguard our young people from disillusionment that lead to despair and radicalization.
“What can we do as individuals and as a nation to make sure that lack of employment does not become a ticket to a machinery army of destabilization of the very nation we hold so dear? How can we strengthen our socialization agencies and institutions to guide our young from blaming their situation on the society to the extent of visiting destruction on the same society?
“What sort of process is the current globalization unleashing that could not be helpful and empower children of the poor, but rather unleash negative process that misguided youths with sophisticated weapons to destroy their country?
“It is my sincere hope, therefore, that distinguished colleagues gathered at this conference will dig out the root of the phenomenon and clinically examine them, study the facts and broad lines that aided the growth and development of the unfortunate insurgency, as well as identify the decadence and sign that will predict the demise and total elimination of the phenomenon.”
Buhari added that, “the Federal Government wishes to again, commend the efforts of the Borno state and other North-eastern state governments; along with other states of the federation such as Kano who have fed and taken care of the IDPs from the humanitarian crisis generated by the insurgency.
“Government also commends the efforts of international and local NGOs, CBOs and FBOs. Let me; therefore, commend Bayero University Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue, the International Institute of Islamic Thought and the Kano state Government for this excellent initiative.”
Also speaking, Kano state Governor, Dr. Aabdullahi Umar Ganduje, recalled how Boko Haram wreaked havoc in Kano during the multiple bomb blasts that rocked the ancient city in 2012 which the lives of over 200 peoples and destroyed property worth billions of Naira.
According to him, his administration has continued to ensure peace and protection of lives and property of residents through the synergy created among security agencies, traditional institutions, religious leaders and opinion leaders.
THE NATION
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