Allow Responsible Citizens To Carry Sophisticated Weapons–Ortom Tells FG

By Chinenye Fesus:-
Governor Samuel Ortom Of Benue State has urged the Federal government to grant licences to responsible citizens to carry sophisticated weapons such as Ak47 to limit the attack of criminals on innocent and vulnerable citizens.
Ortom during the virtual meeting convened by Centre for Values in Leadership, CVL, in collaboration with Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF yesterday presented a paper titled ‘Insecurity and Governance Challenges in the New Normal’, the Governor said governments at all levels must come to terms with the fact that insecurity is a real threat to the development of the country and be willing to sincerely tackle the menace.
He said the policy should be backed by a strict legal framework to prevent illegal possession of arms by the citizenry without exception.
The Governor urged the Federal Government to embrace ranching as it is the global best practice of animal husbandry and to enact a law to end open grazing which often comes with attacks on farming communities by armed herdsmen militia.
He tasked the federal, state, and local governments to show greater commitment to developing the agricultural value chain to generate more job opportunities for Nigerians.
The governor called for the repositioning of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency through training, funding, and logistics to successfully confront drug barons and peddlers; a move he said would stop illegal drugs from entering and circulating in the country.
He went on to solicit the support of all stakeholders in tackling security challenges and pledged the resolve of his administration to ensure the safety of lives and property.
Governor Ortom concluded his presentation by stating that Benue State has made significant contributions to national development and as the food basket of the nation, if the state is threatened by insecurity, the negative impact would be on the entire course.
He thereby recommended that the embargo on employment be lifted and more job opportunities created to take Nigerian youths from the streets.