South-south governors move to establish regional security outfit

- Governors of south-south states announced a plan to establish a regional security outfit in the region following security issues in the country

- The announcement was made in Asaba, Delta state, on Thursday, March 5, when the governors discussed about the security situation in the Niger Delta region

- The state governors also disclosed that the Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo and Delta (BRACED) commission will be revived

Governors of south-south states have decided to establish a regional security outfit in the region following security issues in the country.

The governors made the announcement in Asaba, Delta state, on Thursday, March 5, when discussing about the security situation in the Niger Delta region.

Governors from the region stated that the Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo and Delta (BRACED) commission will be revived to handle the formation of the local security outfit.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, chairman of South-South Governors’ Forum, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, said that BRACED Commission, the economic think-tank of the region, had been mandated to work out the details of the proposed security outfit.

According to him, the commission will brief the governors on the details of the outfit at their next meeting to be held in Port Harcourt in May.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers and his counterparts of Edo, Godwin Obaseki; Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom and Duoye Diri of Bayelsa attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state on Wednesday, March 4, signed the Ondo State Security Network and Amotekun Corps Bill into law.

The governor's action comes a day after the Ondo state House of Assembly passed the bill. The signing took place at the state’s executive council chambers in Akure, the state capital.

Similarly, the Oyo state House of Assembly on Tuesday, March 3, passed the Oyo State Security Network Agency Bill, 2020 codenamed Operation Amotekun.

The bill was considered clause by clause before the third reading and final adoption and passage, even as the lawmakers added local and traditional flavour to the historic bill by wearing customised outfits in the shade of leopard skin.

On the same day, the Lagos state House of Assembly passed the bill on Amotekun after it scaled the third reading by the lawmakers.

In another report, a bill proposing the establishment of the South West Development Commission has been met with stiff resistance in the Nigerian Senate.

The bill sponsored by former Ogun state governor and senator representing Ogun central, Ibikunle Amosun caused an uproar on the floor of the Senate, on Wednesday, March 4.

A defiant Amosun said the bill will act as a catalyst to develop the commercial and industrial potentials of the southwest region.

While some senators supported the bill, others opposed it saying it was divisive and not in the interest of the country.

Senator Amosun, in his lead debate, said the commission has become necessary in the face of dwindling infrastructural challenges and development of human capacity the southwest region is contending with. Senator Teslim from Oyo state said: “I rise to support this bill. What this bill seeks to do is to set up a commission to offer assistance and look at what is best for us.

Still on security, barely a few days after the killing of 51 people in two local governments of Kaduna state, the lawmaker representing Kaduna Central at the Senate, Senator Uba Sani, has donated foodstuff and other relief materials worth N3m to the affected communities.

Legit.ng reports that a media release signed by his strategic communications officer, Ibrahim Salisu Abubakaar, revealed that the affected communities that got the lawmaker's swift support were Kerawa, Maina, Rago in Igabi local government and Bokali in Giwa local government, through his constituency officers.

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Senator Sani, who is also the chairman Senate committee on banking, insurance and other financial institutions, had recently distributed relief materials, cash at the Birnin Yero refugee camp, following their displacement by bandits.

He also donated patrol vehicles to the civilian JTF in the area. This, according to the report, was followed by another donation to Wusar community in Igabi local government when measles struck and killed over 100 children within a day.

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Source: Legit.ng