By Francis Onyeukwu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Chapter Two, Section 14 (1)(b) of 1999 Nigeria Constitution states that security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
This very important section of the country’s grand norm found under the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy, though non- justiceable, implies that its application is voluntary for Chief Executives at the local, state and federal tiers of government and therefore, the citizens do not have strong legal grounds to contest failure to abide by it on any leader.
An in-depth reflection on the above section evidently shows that security is central in tackling the challenges of unemployment, wealth creation, development of infrastructure and other basic amenities as well as other aspects of development in human society.
Apparently for this obvious conviction, on assumption of duties as the 6th
civilian Governor of Anambra state five years ago, Chief Willie Obiano decided
to prioritise security.
Chief Chikodi Anarah, Special Adviser to Gov. Obiano on Security, Safety and Emergency, who gave a historic account of security in the early days of the administration, described the situation as “terrible”, saying that “most big traders at Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka were opening shops at 11 a.m. and closing before 4 p.m. to avoid being kidnapped or robbed by bandits’’.
He said the popular Upper Iweka Flyover at Onitsha was then a danger zone as all manner of criminal elements operated there without challenge.
“The terrific insecurity situation forced some natives to hold traditional/church weddings of their children as well as other social events outside Anambra,’’ Anarah said.
Obiano, who spoke during the launch of second phase of Smart City Project Codenamed, “Operation Nkpochapu’’ (Operation Wipe-out Crime) in Anambra at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square Awka on Friday, Oct 11, 2019, said he decided to prioritise security because peace and security were the key foundations upon which every development thrives.
`Because of the poor security situation then, we started by holding security summit and that enabled us to chart a direction in maintaining the enviable record as Nigeria’s safest state.
“We are investing in security because crime detection, arrest and punishment will be easy using modern security devices, and what we have are most sophisticated and highly effective surveillance equipment in the world today,” he said.
The governor, who said his administration has donated more than 500
vehicles to security agencies, warned criminals to leave the state as the second
phase of the “Operation Nkpochapu” would be deadlier than the first phase.
“We have declared a total war on criminals such as kidnappers, human
traffickers, bandits, cultists and car snatchers in the state,’’ he said.
Obiano urged the Nigerian Police as the lead security agency to collaborate
with other security agencies to effectively utilise the gadgets toward a more
secured Anambra.
He also urged residents to report crime and suspicious movements within
their environment to security operatives by dialing 112, a toll free line or GSM
number 07039194332.
Giving details of the items handed over to security, Obiano said the items
included operational room at the command headquarters of Nigeria Police,
Amawbia near Awka, Smart Closed-Circuit Cameras (CCTVs) now being
installed in Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha.
Others are 111 Super Smart Innoson Vehicle Manufactured (IVM) Patrol
vehicles equipped with communication devices; three Dura Patcher Trucks, 71
Smart Motorbikes, and nine CCTV Aerial Surveillance Toyota Hilux trucks
equipped with modern electronic devices.
He said that the patrol vehicles and motorbikes would be distributed to the
Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
Others are the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Correctional
Service (NCS), the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu, who received
the equipment on behalf of other organisations, said he was surprised at the
level of equipment donated to security agents by the governor.
“I thought we are coming here to receive some few vehicles, but what I have
seen here today is beyond imagination, what I have seen is a total package for
security and when fully deployed would make it difficult for crime to be
committed anywhere in Anambra,’’ he said.
Adamu, who also described the event as very significant, said Anambra was of
paramount importance, noting: “Anambra is the eight most populated state in
this country and the commercial hub in the South-Eastern Nigeria which acts
as a gateway connecting northern Nigeria to the southern part.”
He said any nation that was desirous of all-round development must see the
security of her citizens as a necessity and therefore, enhance the capacity of
security agencies towards attending their mandates.
“By this event sir, you have not only given a take to the sacred provision of the
constitution of Nigeria which provides that the security and well being of the
people shall be the primary purpose of government, you have manifested your
determination to prioritise security in this state,’’ he said.
The I-G commended Obiano for the political will in prioritising security in the
state and urged other state governors to emulate him and as well urged
indigenes to massively return back during the Christmas and New Year as
their safety was guaranteed.
On his part, Mr David Bille, the Anambra Commandant, Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra Command, said he was highly elated
and surprised about what Gov. Obiano did.
“This was my first time of coming across a state governor who is passionate for
security matters, what Gov. Obiano is doing in security is second to none when
compared to things happening in other states.
“Today in Anambra, all the security agencies work as one family in their effort
to provide security and safety and the synergy in addition to sustained logistics
support has made the state a very peaceful state.
“I can say that this second launch of Operation Nkpochapu in Anambra and
the equipment donated has beefed up the existing ones on ground,’’ he said.
Bille, who said that NSCDC received seven vehicles and 50 power bikes fully
fitted with communication and surveillance gadgets, said his command was
grateful to Obiano.
Bille advised other governors to emulate Obiano, adding that “for somebody to
build enduring structure, he or she must first go for architectural design.
“Gov. Obiano has become the architect of modern security in Nigeria, and I
will advise other governors to consult with him and get the idea behind the
success being recorded in the security sector here,’’ he said.
A socio-political commentator in Awka, Mr Ifeanyi Mogbo, said he was
particularly impressed with the two lessons the second launch of Operation
Nkpochapu threw up to Nigerians.
“One very important lesson is that Nigeria has witnessed a governor with the
political will, who told other governors and even the Federal Government that
acquiring modern electronic surveillance gadgets is the in thing in combating
insecurity as it is done in advanced nations.
“Another lesson is the acquisition of Innoson Super Smart vehicles produced
in Nnewi, Nigeria and that shows that we can produce strong durable and fast
running vehicles,’’ he said.
Mogbo, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Oraifite in
Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state, said though he did not share
the same political belief with Obiano and his party, but that he was speaking
his mind as a principled person.
“By showcasing the Super Smart Vehicles made by Innoson, what Obiano
simply told Nigerians who waste billions of Naira importing exotic vehicles to
turn home, and the message on deployment of modern electronic gadgets in
crime fighting equally advises other governors to upgrade,’’ he said.
He noted that if Nigeria imbibed these lessons, a lot would change within a
short time.
Retired Air Vice Marshal, Ben Chiobi, formerly a Nigerian Air Force pilot and
head, Anambra Integrated Security Surveillance, observed that the main
objective of the novel security initiative was to enhance the safety of security
operatives in fighting crimes.
“The surveillance cameras work efficiently at night because they have infra red
light. Each covers a space as big as four Olympic-size football fields.
“There is also an advanced drone to be operated in conjunction with the
Nigerian Air Force.
“The government also acquired three `Dura Patcher’ trucks for not only
security, but to aid in fixing potholes on the roads across the state to ease the
operations of security personnel,’’ he said.
He said the magic wonder trucks were deployed on the roads to repair bad
spots and enhance movement during operations, adding that the trucks would
be used to fix bad spots which would enable Anambra people to drive around
smoothly during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year festivities.
Chiobi said that at present, more than 20 policemen and 25 civilians have
been specially trained in the handling of the new security equipment to ensure
effect functioning.
Scores of captains of industries and notably entrepreneurs from Anambra who
witnessed the event include: Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Motors; Senator
Onyeabo Obi; Chief Allen Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace Airline and
Bishop Paulinus Okafor of the Catholic Diocese of Awka.
Others are Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, Chairman of Nestoil; Stella Okoli,
Chairperson of Emzor Pharmaceuticals and Chief Cosmas Ibeto of Ibeto
Group and numerous others dignitaries.
With remarks made by speakers, and the lesson highlighted by experts, it is
evident that long search for the solution in tackling the hydra-headed monster
called insecurity has been found and all that is now required is for other state
governors to demonstrate the same political will as Obiano in their quest to
combat crimes across the country. (NANFeatures)
