. Ikpeazu lauds security personnel in Abia State
By Emmanuel Ugwu, Umuahia
Abia State Government is set to enhance the operational efficiency of security agencies in the state and has therefore concluded plans to raise N1.5 billion in order to meet the set goal of making Abia very secure.
To this end the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has activated the Abia State Security Fund Law, which had been kept in abeyance several years after it was enacted. A security fund planning committee headed by the deputy chief of staff, Chief Ukpai Agwu Ukpai has been constituted and charged with the responsibility of raising the needed funds to enhance security in God’s own state.
Speaking at a press conference, Ukpai said that it was in keeping with his promise of providing security to all residents of Abia that Governor Ikpeazu has decided to activate the security fund law.
According to him, the security fund would be spent on all security agencies in Abia in order to provide them with modern security gadgets, patrol vehicles, training and retraining as well as improving the general welfare of all security personnel in the state.
The security committee chairman noted that though the target of N1.5 is expected to be raised at the launch of security fund slated for January 30, 2018 it would be a continuous exercise as well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies were expected to be making contributions at all times.
“It behoves on all Abians both at home and abroad and all friends of to support the Abia State Security Fund through financial and material donations,†Ukpai said, adding that every hand must be on deck to provide strategic security architecture for Abia.
When reminded of the security vote that the governor receives on monthly basis, Ukpai said that though he did not know how much the security vote is worth it would nevertheless be enough to meet the security needs of the state.
He noted that the time dynamics change hence the need to respond to the changing times and make security agencies proactive in dealing with emerging security challenges.
In his remarks the coordinator of ASSF, Mr. Darlington Anyanwu stated that “criminal dynamics continues to change by the day†hence provision of effective security would continue to gulp huge amount of money and indeed no amount of money is enough for security.
Special Adviser to the governor on Security Matters, Capt. Awa Udensi (rtd) said that the state government has always maintained cordial relationship with all security agencies in the state, adding that they were all represented in the security fund committee.
He identified the herdsmen as one of the security issues in Abia but pointed out that the problem has to do with “resident cattle rearers†who have been living in the state for upwards of 15 years.
While maintaining that Abia has no migrant herdsmen, Awa revealed that a profiling of all herdsmen in Abia was being carried out and at the end of the exercise it would be easy to establish their identities and maintain enduring peace between herdsmen and farmers.
In another development, Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has expressed gratitude to security personnel in the state for the synergy that exists amongst them and which has helped to reduce crime in the state.
Speaking at the launch of the Abia Security Fund and unveiling of the Abia Security Card in Umuahia, the Governor commended the contributions and sacrifices of the various security agencies and other citizens who volunteer information to security agents, noting that their efforts led to the peaceful yuletide season enjoyed in the state last year.
He however gave God the glory for watching over the state, stating that the mishaps that have befallen other states, including bank robberies, terror and herdsmen attacks have been far from the state due to God’s protection.
“Every Abian should be grateful to God for his protective shield over us as a state and also appreciate our brave and hardworking men and women in the security services. Since 2015 that we came on board I can’t remember any incidence of bank robbery in the state. God is indeed with us and our state is blessed.â€
The governor said the launch of the Abia Security Fund and the Abia Security Card are expedient in the effort to nip crime in the state.
Ikpeazu also stated that based on 2016 reported crimes data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Abia State is the second safest state in the country but noted that “no part of the world is absolutely secure and hence Abians still need to work hard to further reduce crime.â€
According to him, “the task of securing a state is huge and no government can do it alone and we hope that with today’s launch, government will in the days ahead be able to provide security personnel in the state with modern security gadgets and sundry support for policing the state better.â€
He also recommended the security card to all Abians as capable of loading money to the Abia business community.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion and Chief Executive Officer of Novena Majesty Company, Prince Sunny Aku, pointed out that security is everyone’s business as no development can take place without security and called for support for the governor to make Abia greater.
Earlier, the Chairman of the organising committee of the event, who is also the deputy chief of staff to the governor, Chief Ukpai Agwu, said that Nigeria was confronted by a myriad of security challenges with Abia State not insulated but likelier to be more impacted because of its position at the centre of the confluence of five states in the South-east and South-south regions. He described the launch of the fund as a clarion call for all to contribute towards the security of the state.
Highlights of the event include the unveiling of the Abia Security Card by the governor and the donation of security vehicles by First Bank Plc and UBA Plc. Other individuals and corporate bodies donated to the fund, including Chief Bourdex Onuoha who donated N10m and Chief Sunny Aku who gave N5m.
