Governors Must Be Held Responsible for Kidnappings in Their States — Bwala
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said state governors should be held accountable for the rising cases of kidnapping across Nigeria, insisting that insecurity at the grassroots reflects failures in governance.
Bwala made the remarks during an interview on The Morayo Show, where he argued that every incident of abduction occurring within a state’s territory should be the responsibility of its governor.
According to him, most kidnapping cases occur at the local government level, making it imperative for state governments to strengthen security coordination and ensure that funds meant for community development and safety are properly utilised.
“Every time someone is kidnapped or taken against their will in any part of Nigeria, the governor of that state should be held responsible. I want that to be the memorable takeaway.
“Every local government area, all the kidnappings have happened in local government areas,” Bwala said.
The presidential aide also questioned how funds allocated under the Safe School Initiative were utilised by state governments, noting that the programme was designed to improve security around schools and protect pupils from attacks.
He explained that the initiative provided resources for the construction of perimeter fences around schools, installation of early warning systems and implementation of other security measures aimed at safeguarding learning environments.
“There was a programme called the Safe School Initiative, and money was given to states to build fences around schools, set up early warning systems and carry out all those safety checks.
“Ask your governor where that money was spent,” he said.
Bwala’s comments come amid growing public concern over recurring incidents of kidnapping and insecurity in several parts of the country, with renewed calls for stronger collaboration between the federal, state and local governments to improve security and protect lives and property.