NORTH CENTRAL STATES UNITE FOR SECURITY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AMID BUHARI’S PASSING

As Nigeria mourns the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a solemn but strategic meeting took place in Benue State, where emergency management officials from Plateau and Nasarawa states joined their Benue counterparts in a show of solidarity and regional coordination against spiraling insecurity and looming natural disasters.
The high-level meeting ended with a minute of silence in honour of Buhari, whose death was acknowledged during the briefing. However, the tone quickly shifted to urgent matters of survival as participants highlighted the escalating humanitarian and security crises afflicting the North Central region.
Director-General of Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA), Ben Akwash, pointed to the porous nature of inter-state borders as a major concern. “Cross-border infiltration has become a pipeline for terror,” Akwash stated, noting that many attackers enter Benue through Nasarawa to commit atrocities and return unchecked. He emphasized the importance of deploying joint early warning systems, data-sharing, and real-time collaboration across state agencies.
Executive Secretary of Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, Sunday Abdu, reinforced the message of shared vulnerability. “This aggression visited on Benue is not isolated,” he said. “Plateau and other states have suffered similarly. We came here not just to sympathise, but to learn how Benue is managing its multiple crises so we can improve our own systems.”
The three states—Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa—are among the hardest hit by recurring violence, largely attributed to armed herders, bandit groups, and worsening communal tensions. Thousands have been displaced, farmland destroyed, and basic services disrupted. With the rainy season now compounding the crisis through potential flooding, the regional cooperation comes at a critical time.
Reports indicate that the emergency management teams agreed to develop a unified regional crisis framework, focusing on real-time communication, humanitarian coordination, and community-level awareness. They also pledged joint simulation exercises and stronger ties with national agencies.
Beyond security, climate-driven threats like flooding are now forcing emergency officials to plan holistically. “This is no longer about just responding to attacks,” Akwash said. “It’s about building a system that prevents, prepares, and protects.”
As Nigeria reflects on the legacy of President Buhari—a leader once tasked with national security—the gathering of these state leaders represents a pragmatic shift toward local and regional solutions. In the face of growing complexity, North Central states are choosing to stand together.