By Emeka Nwosu, PhD.
On Thursday in Umuahia, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti took a major step forward towards ensuring that the State is made very secure and safe for people who live and ply their trade in the place. The occasion was the Fund-Raising Luncheon organized by the Abia State Security Trust Fund with a view to mobilizing resources for the effective prosecution of the security agenda of the government.
Upon his inauguration as the governor of Abia on May 29, 2023, Otti highlighted security of lives and property as one of the cardinal priorities of his administration. It was quite clear to him that the primary purpose of government is security and welfare of the people; a constitutional responsibility which he took oath to uphold.
It was in furtherance of this oath and his commitment to make Abia safe and secure that shortly after his inauguration as Governor, he launched “Operation Crush”, a Joint Security Taskforce, to fight insecurity and criminality in every part of the State. The security outfit was motivated and equipped with patrol vehicles and modern communication gadgets, and deployed to all the known red spots in the State to tackle all forms of criminality, including heinous crimes like kidnapping, banditry, human trafficking, cultism, and ritual killings.
Maintaining security is capital intensive. Thus, to achieve sustainable results, the State would require to make a lot of investments in the security sector. Coming from a private sector background, the Governor took the initiative to set up the Abia State Security Trust Fund with a view to ensuring the sustainable funding of the security agenda of the government. It was against this background that the Governor got the Abia State House of Assembly to enact the Abia State Security Trust Fund Law 2024.
The Law empowers the State to set up a specialized framework for mobilizing, managing and deploying resources in support of security infrastructure across the State. As stipulated in the law, funds raised for the Security Trust Fund are to be prudently applied in the procurement of necessary equipment for operational activities by security personnel.
The Law provides for a public-private partnership in the funding of the security agenda of the government. This is a laudable vision which makes for an inclusive approach in the tackling of insecurity in the State. With this model initiative, Governor Otti has demonstrated a clarity of vision and sense of purpose in making Abia a safe haven for enterprise to thrive and people to live without fear.
Speaking on the occasion, Otti stated: “Abia is today regarded as one of the most peaceful States in Nigeria-not because criminality doesn’t exist, but because the government is alert, responsive, and unrelenting in its duty to protect lives and property. This stability has become the foundation for rapid socio-economic progress. Clean urban environments, open roads, revitalized schools, upgraded hospitals, and growing enterprise hubs are evidence that the peace being secured is already bearing fruit”.
Based on the peace and security being enjoyed in the State today, there is the need for the momentum to be sustained and deepened, hence the justification for the Fund Raising Luncheon organized by the Abia State Security Trust Fund. Security is a collective enterprise. It is, indeed, everybody`s business. It is, therefore, no wonder that Otti used the occasion to call on all well-meaning citizens of the State and corporate bodies to contribute to the Trust Fund so that issues of insecurity can be addressed on a continuous and sustainable basis.
“You would agree with me that this administration has demonstrated prudence in the management of our stock of resources. You can, therefore, be certain that every kobo raised from this effort shall be judiciously applied. It is beyond argument that we have shown total commitment to keeping Abia safe even amidst severe challenges with resources. We are now asking for your support to do better, achieve more and build a State where residents can go to bed each night and sleep with both eyes closed, wake up in the morning to attend to their businesses unmolested and visit family and friends in any part of the State without anxiety”.
Based on the trust which Governor Otti has already built amongst the people of Abia following his sterling performance in office in the last two years, it was not surprising that the good people of Abia reciprocated by massively supporting the initiative. At the official launch of the Security Fund, the sum of N3.4 billion in donations was realized. Given the Governor`s track record in financial prudence, it is expected that the funds would be diligently applied to make Abia safe and a no-go area for criminal elements in the society.
May Abia continue to prevail!
Dr. Emeka Nwosu
Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com