Abia govt. reiterates commitment to partner with National Orientation Agency in fighting insecurity in the state

 

 

Steve Unegbu, Umuahia

 

 

The Abia state government has reiterated its commitment  to continue to partner with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in fighting insecurity in the state.

 

This was made known by the Governor of Abia state,Dr Okezie Ikpeazu during a one- Day National Security Sensitization campaign on the theme : “Building a people of peace : Towards Enhancing National Security” organized by National Orientation Agency Abia state held at Michael Okpara auditorium Umuahia.

 

 

 

Governor Ikpeazu who was represented by the Abia state Secretary to State Government, Barrister Chris Ezem, congratulated NOA for organizing such an epoch making event especially at this period the entire country is faced with various kinds of insecurity challenges.

 

He described the security campaign   as very germane,added that security is no longer the responsibility of security agents alone but everyone’s responsibility.

 

 

 

He pointed out that  because of the importance the Abia state Governor attached to the safety of lives and  property of Ndi Abia and the residents of Abia state that made him  to create the Abia state ministry of Home land security , provision of security vehicles to security agencies in the state among others to help in the  fight against insecurity in state.

 

 

Governor Ikpeazu maintained that, ” Government alone without the help of other stakeholders can not  fight insecurity .

 

“Security remains one of our great challenge today and this campaign came at the right time.

 

” We have insecurity ranging from kidnapping,robbery , killing, banditry , insurgency, terrorism among others.

 

” We are ready to continue to partner with National Orientation Agency and other security agencies in the state to fight  insecurity in the state”

 

 

 

Earlier in her speech, the State Director , National Orientation Agency (NOA) ,Abia state,Dr Ngozi Okechukwu said the security sensitization campaign was designed to continue discussions on the degrading and deteriorating war with terrorists,bandits , kidnappers , insurgency, political lawlessness, election violence,drug addiction ,police brutality, radicalization and other forms of violent extremism that undermine the peace of the society.

 

 

 

According to her , ” we are faced with varying shades of endemic insecurity and economic hardship rooted  in pervasive erosion of moral values to the extent that the people of this nation are living in constant fear, anxiety and stress .

 

 

” It is against this mandate of NOA as a social engineering organization that we are saddled with the responsibility of supporting the Nigerian Government to fulfill the enormous constitutional mandate of providing security for its citizens to sustain leadership legitimacy ”

 

 

She queried how  Nigeria gradually slip into a terrorist enclave where terror acts became a regular signature of the country’s social memoirs of insecurity, insurgency,terrorism , kidnapping and other violent extremism,added that the continued dangerous crime against humanity, against the Government and innocent citizens,such as arson,mass killings by gunfire, forced enlistment, suicide bombing and gender-based violence, have undoubtedly left many wondering and asking ,”which way Nigeria”

 

She further said, ” Agitations are increasing daily -Movement for Survival of the Ogoni people (MOSOP) , Movement For the Emancipation of the Niger Delta region (MEND), BokoHaram,IpoB , Unknown Gunmen,END SARS etc ,are all intensely dangerous security threats worsening the nation’s Development indices .

 

” Why is the threat of corruption so pervasive,endemic ,systemic and wide-spread across the Public sector,private sector, even among religious, traditional bodies and the young population?

 

” Why is unemployment worsening in Nigeria? The National Bureau of Statistics in 2019 posited that two out of every five Nigerians live below the poverty level and survives on less than a dollar daily because they are unemployed.

 

” How did we get to this stage of judicial corruption? A situation where the judiciary,the interpreter of our constitution and upholder of the principle of the rule of law for equity for all citizens,is embarrassingly accused of corruption and ridiculed globally.

 

” How did we get to the highest level of inept leadership that make us cringe under the claws of incapable functionaries ? The situation is so bad that even unborn children know that the problem with Nigeria is a leadership problem” she queried .

 

She however disclosed that  the mass protest against police brutality,is a metaphor for Nigeria’s failure of leadership and one of its kind in Nigerin history,added that ENDSARS protest is an offshoot of the global call for reform and total overhaul of policing systems , accountability structures, and finding alternative approaches to maintaining order and security.

 

She therefore, called on stakeholders to support National Orientation Agency Abia restructuring of the Brigade to effectively fight social, political and economic decadence in Nigeria as a way forward.

 

 

The climax of the event was the investiture of the Abia state speaker of House of Assembly,Engr Chinedum Orji as WAI Brigade award, the secretary to Abia state government, Barrister Chris Ezem,Senator Bright Nwanne ,High chief Mel Daimon, Engr.Enyinnaya Chima Nwafor  among others as WAI Brigade Patrons.

 

 

She commended the Abia state Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for prioritising peace building, and introducing different savvy security platforms hence Abia state remains a comparatively peaceful state.