Nation
Split Police For More Effectiveness-Experts
Some security experts have called for splitting of the Nigeria Police Force into Federal, State and Local Government organisations in the interest of national security.
Making the call in separate interviews with The Tide’s source in Lagos, the experts commented on the security situation in the country during the 62nd Independence Anniversary.
According to them, there is an urgent need to amend the nation’s constitution to allow creation of police at Federal, State and Local Government levels.
A retired Director at the Directorate of State Security, Mr Dennis Amachree, said such an arrangement would create secret police system in the nation’s interest.
Amachree said Nigeria was doing well after independence, until the military ventured into the political space.
According to him, if Nigeria is copying America’s style of democracy, it should follow fully how America’s constitution operates as regards security.
“It is pertinent to note that in restructuring the police system, relevant laws should be created to define the roles and overlapping responsibilities for each level of policing.
“Federal laws should be well-defined and strictly enforced by the federal police.
“State laws should be properly defined and enforced by state police organisations, taking into cognizance that laws could differ from state to state.
“This depends on the peculiar security threat that faces the state,” the expert told the source.
He said the same should go for local governments and even densely populated cities that could afford their own police organisations.
Amachree added that the principle of Equal Justice Under Law must be strictly applied to the police organisations by allowing them a substantial level of operational autonomy.
He said that the aim would be to check any manipulations.
Another security expert, Mr Folorunsho Attah, said that, at 62 years of independence, Nigeria had grown worse in terms of security.
He said that the country was better in terms of security in its first 10 years of independence.
“Corruption is a factor hindering our security prospects. I believe that so it is on Boko Haram, ISAWP and other uprisings.
“The crave for wealth by everyone in the country further hampered our security.
“Youths are not orientated toward discipline and morality; rather, parents endorse their children’s pursuit of wealth at all cost.
“For an improved security situation, there should be re-orientation of everyone on the importance of security,” he said.
Attah advised that headship of security agencies should based on ability to perform and not on religious or ethnic considerations.
Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, a civil rights group, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, called on governments to intensify the fight against insecurity.
Nwanguma advised Nigerians to vote wisely in 2023 as a strategy to strengthen the country’s security.
A former President of Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria, Mr Chris Oji, said that the nation’s security needed urgent attention.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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