The Federal Government has inaugurated a committee to study the recommendations and implementation strategies on strengthening internal security framework and Community Policing in Nigeria.
This is even as it reiterated her determination and commitment to improving the security of all citizens in Nigeria with a view to reducing the current security challenges bedeviling the country.
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who inaugurated the committees on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the journey began with the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 40,2018 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), recommendations on strengthening Internal Security Framework and Community Policing in Nigeria.
“Consequently, the Committee observed that the absence of a National Security Policy and Strategy document as well as a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework on Internal Security has negatively affected the operations of the Internal Security Agencies in the country which therefore necessitated the directive of Mr. President to approve an Inter-Ministerial Committee with all relevant stakeholders on Internal Security” to be put in place.
Aregbesola stressed that one of the nine priority areas of the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is to improve governance and provide security for all citizens.
“Therefore, it calls for all seriousness to provide the needed apparatus and security architecture to fight insecurity in the country.”
A statement by the Director Press, Blessing Lere-Adams, noted that Committee inaugurated has Seven Sub-Committee and their Terms of Reference (TOR).
Arẹgbẹsọla said: These seven committees are; “The Committee to develop internal security Policy and strategy with the Interior Minister as Chairman.
“Committee to Develop Mechanism for effective Synergy and Coordination among Internal Security Agencies and Adopt Community Policing as a National Strategy with the Police Affairs Minister as Chairman
“Committee to Develop Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Internal Security Operatives with the Permanent Secretary of Interior as Chairman.
“Committee on the Application of Appropriate Science, Technology and Innovation for Strengthening Internal Security Management, including Forensic Satellite Imagery, Drones, CCTVs etc with the representative of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology Innovation as Chairman, Committee on the Establishment of Internal Service Trust Fund with Permanent Secretary Ministry of Police Affairs as Chairman.
“Committee on the Appropriate Devolution of Control of Resources along with the chains of Command of Internal Security Agency with the Director-General, National Drug Law & Enforcement Agency as Chairman.
“Committee to Innovate Funding Mechanism for upgrading Equipment Holdings of Internal Security Agencies and for providing Needed Equipment for Security Agencies with the Inspector General, Nigeria Police Force as Chairman.
Aregbesola also empathically said, “I do not need to reiterate the seriousness of this assignment, providing security for lives and property of the citizens is the primary responsibility of Government. This is a mission on which we cannot afford to fail.”
The Minister pointed out that the recent incidence at the correctional facilities was no longer internal insurrection by inmates but a mass armed invasion from outside.
He said: “A new strategy, therefore, must emerge to tackle these new challenges.
Secondly is the issue of galvanizing resources –human, financial, and technology.
“The third concern is community policing. The people he said are the primary agents in their security, nevertheless, they must be socialized and well organized along that line-with the people in the first line of Defence. Therefore, if people are organized for their own security, it makes the work of security agencies easy,” he said.
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