Insecurity: Plateau LGs adopt community policing model

The 17 local government council chairmen in Plateau State have resolved to establish formally registered security outfits in their respective councils to complement conventional security agencies in tackling persistent killings and other security challenges across the state.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ephraim Gar, disclosed this at a press conference in Jos on Thursday, where he presented a summary report of the ministry’s statewide project inspection tour across the 17 Local Government Areas.

Flanked by the 17 council chairmen, Gar said the chairmen had agreed to adopt the Wase Local Government Area security initiative as a model for strengthening grassroots security.

He said, “Right now, we have Wase LGA, which has trained its own personnel. It is just a matter of time before other LGAs follow suit, but they have all agreed that they are going to take a cue to have a formal security outfit that will help our conventional security agencies combat crimes within our society.”

The commissioner explained that the security personnel in Wase had undergone three months of training conducted by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

According to him, “Formal registration of the outfits would facilitate information dissemination and improve collaboration between local security personnel and conventional security agencies.”

Citing Wase Local Government Area as an example, Gar said, “The council chairman, Hamisu Anani, recently organised a passing-out parade for 140 officers of the Wase Rock Security Network Limited.”

He added, “The ceremony also featured the donation of 25 patrol motorcycles and two Toyota Hilux vehicles to enhance the mobility, operational capacity and rapid response of the personnel across communities in the area.”

He further said, “The outfit was formally inaugurated by the Plateau State Command of the NSCDC following a training programme.”

Gar said the ministry oversees the operation of all local governments and chieftaincy institutions in the state, including districts and village administration, and is charged with inspecting, monitoring, providing technical assistance, guidance and advising local governments on administration and financial matters.

He said the tour was undertaken in line with the vision of the “Time is Now” administration of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, to assess the level of completed and ongoing projects executed by the 17 chairmen, to ensure funds released were judiciously utilised, to ensure projects met quality standards and aligned with the administration’s grassroots development agenda, and to strengthen synergy between the state, local governments and the traditional institutions.

He said the tour covered all three senatorial zones and the 17 LGAs, and that he was pleased to report that the chairmen had not disappointed the administration.

He said, “Providing dividends of democracy at the grassroots remains the top priority of this administration. From what we have seen, governance has truly been taken closer to the people.

“The chairmen have no option but to key into the vision of Governor Mutfwang, and they have justified the confidence reposed in them.”

Present during the tour were the management of the ministry, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jonathan Dabo, supportive staff, the media and some civil society organisations.

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In the Southern Zone, Gar said the team inspected key people-oriented projects, including the ongoing remodelling of the youth centre, mini stadium, computer-based test centres and legislative chambers; installation of solar-powered streetlights; primary health centres; motorised boreholes; housing estates for legislators; and the Wase Rock Radio and Television Station.

He said the team also inspected facilities at the temporary headquarters of the 175 Infantry Motorcycle Battalion of the Nigerian Army, a clear demonstration of council support for security and peace in the area.

In the Central Zone, covering Kanam, Kanke, Pankshin, Mangu and Bokkos, notable projects inspected included the 23-kilometre Gugur Road construction in Kanke, the remodelled Dengi Multipurpose Hall, primary health care centres, the 1,500-capacity event hall in Mangu, the 200-capacity anatomy laboratory at Plateau State University, Bokkos, funded by ALGON, the Palace of the Ngolong Ngas, and transformers for rural electrification, among others.

In the Northern Zone, covering Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Jos East, Jos North, Jos South and Riyom, projects commissioned and inspected included primary health centres at Sabon Gari, Chinye-Miango, Garba Daho and Furaka; rural electrification projects in Miango; council secretariat complexes; ICT centres; ultra-modern markets at Rishari-Rutara and Zarakon; bridges linking Farin Gada and Rusau, and Vwang and Kogot; police station outposts; and town halls in Kwang and Kuru, among others.

Gar said, “Across all the 17 local government areas visited, I am glad to report that projects executed are people-oriented and based on the actual needs of the communities, in line with the vision of the ‘Time is Now’ Administration of His Excellency, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.”

On allegations of interference in local government finances, the commissioner defended Mutfwang, insisting that the governor had never dictated how the councils should utilise their allocations.

He said, “His Excellency, the governor, has never in any way interfered or demanded from us, or directed the local government chairmen on what to do with their resources.”

Gar argued that the projects being executed by the councils, including the establishment of radio and television stations and the construction of large-capacity halls, demonstrated their ability to utilise their resources.

“You know the cost of having a radio station and a functional television station. You also know the cost of building a 1,500-capacity hall,” he said.

He, however, called for an improved revenue-sharing formula for local governments.

He said, “We should be calling for an improvement in the sharing formula for local governments so that they can execute more meaningful projects that have a direct bearing on our various communities.”

Gar thanked God and Mutfwang for giving the ministry and the chairmen the enablement to operate without any interference, and also thanked the chairmen, the traditional institutions, the media and civil society for making the tour a success.