Nation
Senator Blames Insecurity On Inadequate Funding Of Police
Sen. Nicholas Tofowomo (PDP-Ondo), has blamed the current security challenge on inadequate funding by successive government for the Nigerian Police Force.
Tofowomo said this when he spoke with newsmen yesterday in Okitipupa, while inspecting rehabilitation work on the burnt Okitipupa police station and area command through his sponsorship.
The structures were destroyed by hoodlums on October 22, 2020 during the #EndSARS protest.
Tofowomo urged the Federal Government to strive towards ensuring adequate funding and equipping the police who played vital role of ensuring security of lives and property in the country.
“Policing in a large and diverse country like Nigeria needs enormous funding and sophisticated weapons, but the poor funding in yearly budgets of the police by past government is responsible for the current situation.
“You will be surprised that the same police being condemned will have lived up to expectations, if the government had improved their funding and give them sophisticated weapons,” he said.
Tofowomo, who expressed satisfaction with the level of work at the police station and area command, said that his concern for the safety of lives and property of his constituents made him to bankroll the project.
He said that the rehabilitation work would be completed before Dec. 26, when the station would be commissioned and hand over to the police.
DSP Funmilayo Odunlami, spokesperson for the police command in Ondo, lauded the senator for taking such a bold step to ensure safety of residents.
Odunlami said this in a telephone interview with NAN on Tuesday.
“We thank the senator for his display of kindness and ensuring safety of lives and property of residents, I appeal to our youths to stop the destruction of government property to press home their demands,” she said.
Oba Festus Olumoyegun, the Oniju of Iju-Odo also lauded Tofowowo for his gesture towards rebuilding the station, saying he has brought succour to the people of Ikaleland, in spite of the fact that he was not an indigene of the area.
The traditional ruler said that Tofowomo has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he can be trusted at all times and urged other politicians to emulate the gesture.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
