Insecurity: FG inaugurates 17-member committee on community safety
By Paul Efiong
The Federal Government yesterday inaugurated a 17-man Implementation Committee on Community Safety and Human Security inorder to strategize ways of reducing crimes and violence across all states of the federation.
The initiative in collaboration with Risk and Accidental Prevention Society of Nigeria (RAPSON) which is a non-governmental organisation(NGO) is aimed to work as multi-sectoral stakeholders by providing a platform for government at all levels to improve grassroots security system.
The event witnessed relevant representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies who are also expected to involve in the system to brainstorming in mobilising grassroots intelligence gathering to ensuring a proactive rural community security management system.
Performing the inauguration, Dr George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs stated that the primary objective of his committee is to strategize for committee safety and human security programmes.
Akume further explained that the idea was for integrated approach among the network of critical stakeholders, looking at the level of violence, crimes and conflicts, to ensure lasting responses to contemporary security challenges across the country.
“Today`s inauguration of Inter-Ministerial Implementation Committee of Community Safety and Human Security marks another milestone in the annals of rijigging the security architecture.
“Especially at the community levels to ensure bottom-top approach in providing many solutions towards the preponderance and existential security challenges.
“Today`s event is apt, as all relevant security institutions and stakeholders in the evolving contemporary security management institutions have been brought together to work from grassroots level.
“With non-state actors in expanding the narratives and intelligence towards community safety, first at the local level which in most instances act as a springboard for all major violence and conflicts that snowball to national acrimony.“
According to him, the initiative is recognised within the framework of the UN Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFS), adding that it is also designed to generate more than 30, 000 jobs for the youths and women empowerment.
He said, “As noted in UN General Assembly resolution 66/290, human security is an approach to assist member states in identifying and addressing widespread and cross-cutting challenges to the survival, livelihood and dignity of the people.
“Therefore, the committee stands a greater chance to benefit from the UNTFHS which is accessible by all member states including Nigeria, “ he said.
Akume listed some of their responsibilities to include designing strategies and develop standard operating procedure for implementation of community safety, strengthening inter-community relations and build improved community resilience, among others.
The committee chaired by Akume himself has Engineer Ben Odohofre as Chairman and RAPSON Coordinator, Mr Ojelabi Idowu of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Benson Victor of Nigerian Correctional Service, Alhaji Ibrahim Sabo, Dr Bassey Etim-Ikang as members.
Others are, Mr Oche Obilikwu, Mr Peter Egbodo, Mrs Okechukwu ASnuli, ACP Eric Obi (Rtd.), Barr. Jonathan Obaje, Amb. Shedrack Uwajuonye, Richard Terwase, Mrs Angela Ibiware, Maryiam Abdulmalik, Prof. Babatunde Bolaji and Mrs Julie Osagie.
Speaking during the event, Engineer Ben Odohofre who is also the Chairman and Cordinator of RAPSON explained that the initiative would enable Nigeria to access the UN`s trust fund which was also meant for countries with security challenges like Nigeria.
“We have UN trust fund for human security, Nigeria has not benefited from the fund and this fund is basically for crisis and we feel that if we put this together, we will be able to access that fund, “ he emphasized.
