Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has endorsed the establishment of Community Policing, a move he said is aimed at fully integrating citizens into the security architecture of their communities to provide lasting solutions to security challenges affecting the country.
Governor Fubara made his position known during a two-day stakeholders meeting on the overall security challenges in the South-South geopolitical zone, held in Port Harcourt.
The event, themed “Developing Modern Strategies to Sustain Current Achievements of Security Agencies in the South-South Geopolitical Zone,” brought together various stakeholders to exchange ideas on effective security solutions.
The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, stressed that insecurity is a global concern, not unique to Nigeria, but stressed that local solutions are essential to address the prevailing security challenges in the country.
He also highlighted the importance of training traditional rulers, youth, women's groups, religious organizations and civil society organizations (CSOs) in conflict management models.
According to him, “Reflecting on security challenges and solutions requires collaboration from everyone, because security monitoring and control is not a task that can be done by one person alone. This meeting will provide a forum to examine security challenges in the South-South Zone and offer recommendations to address them. Therefore, the composition of the participants is well thought out, as they are in constant and close contact with the people.”
The Governor promised to implement the recommendations of the programme and thanked President Ahmed Tinubu for choosing Rivers State to host the South-South stakeholders engagement and promised to remain steadfast in his support to the security agencies.
“I sincerely thank His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for approving this Stakeholders’ Commitment on the General Security Challenges in the South-South Geopolitical Zone. It also reinforces his commitment to the security of lives and property in Nigeria as enshrined in our Constitution.
“In enthroning peace and security in the state, we as a government have taken giant and leaps to support security agencies in the fight against crime in the state. We recently donated 100 patrol vehicles to the Nigeria Police and 6 gunboats to the Nigerian Navy. We supply PMS and AGO on a monthly basis to the Joint Task Force comprising security agencies to assist them in their daily operations. We have given monthly grant to some security agencies to support their daily logistics.
“We support the widows of the slain security officers with some form of funding, and also the security personnel who need help. The state government also supports the security agencies in developing infrastructure such as offices, residential quarters, etc.
“All these measures are aimed at providing a safe and secure Rivers State where individuals and private establishments can carry out their legitimate businesses without fear of harassment,” he said.
In his opening remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, noted that the engagement of stakeholders was to create a forum to constantly review security challenges along with corresponding recommendations with a view to maintaining trust between the government and communities.
The SGF, represented by OSGF Director of Special Services Mr. David Attah, added that the security commitment is also to “increase security awareness and consciousness of critical stakeholders at the bases” and “provide a forum for the exchange of ideas to address challenges with the operations of non-state security outfits in the area.”
“It is hoped that at the end of the workshop, participants will feel motivated to educate other members of their respective communities,” he summed up.
The programme also included the presentation of a paper by former Director General of DSS, Matthew Seiyefa, entitled “Combating Piracy and Illegal Oil Bundling and Other Crimes in the South-South Zone: Challenges and Prospects”, and another paper by Dr. Grace Scent entitled “Peace-Building Mechanism to Curb Crimes and Other Communal Violence in the South-South Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria”.
Stakeholders at the engagement also included the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu Wodo and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Oku Ibom Ibibio/Chairman, Akwa Ibom Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch, Most Rev. Ka;adokubo Bray and other stakeholders from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Cross Rivers States.
