Ime Akpan
Over the years, the security situation in Nigeria has been a source of concern for the federal government and its component units. Insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, cultism and many other violent crimes have run rife, making the citizens feel on edge.
Knowing that the primary duty of any government is to guarantee the security and welfare of its citizens, the Nigerian government and the sub-nationals have evolved policies and programmes that are security-oriented for the enhancement of the protection of lives and property of citizens through which a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere for human activities can thrive.
It is believed that that security, especially internal security, is crucial for economic growth for it creates a stable environment that encourages investment, reduces crime, and fosters a more productive workforce. Furthermore, a secure environment encourages both local and foreign investments, allows businesses to operate freely, promotes peace and stability and ultimately leads to a more thriving economy through job creation, increased production and overall economic expansion.
To secure critical infrastructure, protect lives and property as well as promote economic growth, the governor of Akwa Ibom State has made security a major component on his ARISE Agenda.
He believes that by creating a stable and secure environment, the state will be attractive to investors, crime and violence will reduce while citizens will be empowered to contribute to the economy.
To walk the talk, the Eno-led government created a stand-alone ministry of internal security and waterways headed by General Koko Essien to ensure continuous peace and security of lives and property in the urban and rural areas of the state, procured gunboats, patrol vehicles, and other support for security agencies.
Shortly after taking oath of office in 2023, the governor unveiled the Ibom Community Watch (ICW) to provide rural intelligence and support security efforts across the State.
Later in the year, 550 trainees of the security outfit graduated after undergoing a series of training in security duties, intelligence gathering, self defence, basic discipline, crowd control, traffic management, and asset protection.
“They are to work under very strict supervision and control of the main security agencies, especially the police. They are to work under very strict supervision and control of the main security agencies, especially the Police. Their jobs will be to provide security information, to help in crowd control, to help protect basic government assets and ensure that there is peace in all the areas where they are located,” the governor said.
They were certified fit and ready for deployment to their communities for security duties in support of the police and other security agencies.
In another move the governor launched the construction of a Command and Control Centre— a centralised facility designed to digitally coordinate and enhance security operations in the state.
The facility integrates multiple information streams, data sources, and communication channels to improve situational awareness and facilitate swift responses to security challenges.
The CCC, according to Eno, “will provide a one-stop hub for information sharing and real-time response to security issues,” as well as “make our state more uncomfortable and unwelcoming for criminal elements and their cohorts.”
It also believed that the centre would significantly enhance communication among security agencies, enabling more effective crime control and the swift arrest of criminals.
While the state generally avoids the high-level risks of some other parts of the country, it does face issues like armed robbery, communal clashes, kidnappings, vandalism vandalism of public infrastructure, particularly the destruction and theft of transformers, the government announced the deployment of least one employee of the Ibom Watch Security Outfit to every village to work with the police to address the problem.
“The spate of vandalisation of public facilities, especially transformers, is a significant concern for us. It has cost the government substantial resources to replace these transformers, which has also impeded rural development. The government intends to ensure that each village has at least one security operative who will act as an eye for the Nigeria Police,” the governor said.
The state government has a robust working relationship with security agencies, including the police, Navy, DSS, and NSCDC, to combat crime and maintain peace.
Recently, the government boosted the service delivery of the Nigeria Police Force by providing five new patrol vehicles to complement the earlier provision of 20 Toyota Hilux trucks to boost security operations in the state.
“I am willing to put everything we have to ensure that we do not allow criminality to thrive in this State. In view of this, we have added five additional police patrol vehicles to the fleet of the state police command. We will continue to do this, not just for the police, but for the entire security architecture of the state,” Eno declared.
To ensure that the waterways are safe for both travelers and for the blue economy, the government donated 14 gunboats to the Nigerian Navy.
Speaking at the Nigerian Naval Ship Base at Ikot Abasi, NNS Jubilee Jetty, where the patrol boats were presented, the governor restated his commitment to boosting maritime security on the waterways in line with the aspiration of his administration’s ARISE Agenda.
“This event is a milestone, in our determined and focused efforts to secure our waterways, protect our critical economic assets and combat some unwholesome activities along our coastline.
“With the 14 gunboats, this programme will also mitigate the activities of pirates and other criminal elements within the coastal communities.
“This, no doubt, will boost our blue economy, water transportation, within and with neighbouring states, while improving the livelihood of our people, living within the coastal communities,” he said.
The investment in security underscores the administration’s unwavering dedication to fostering a secure environment, thereby paving the way for the state’s sustainable development and economic growth.
