As part of strategies to curb insecurity in the country, Nigerians have been urged to begin to see security as part of their obligations by showing keen interest in the happenings in their neighborhood. The advice was given at the recent Citizens Summit, which held in Lagos with the theme ‘State of Insecurity in the Nation’.
Speaking on the theme of the summit, the Capoon of the National Association of Seadogs, Ikeja Chapter, Panama Deck, which organised the event, Ifeanyi Konkwo, noted that while insecurity cannot be completely wiped out, it could be mitigated through early detection and apprehension of culprits and bringing them to book. Konkwo urged the Federal Government to give priority to the welfare of law enforcement agencies, arguing that if law enforcement officers know that they are being taken care of in terms of medicals, good education for their children, proper accommodation and early payment of their retirement benefits, they would give their best.
He added: “If you look at the economic climate, it is not helping our law enforcement agencies. From my own personal experience, I know that if a policeman dies in active duty, the money that he is paid statutorily, not what the various state governments provide, doesn’t help. During the Obasanjo administration, they reviewed that money from what it used to be to N300,000. Which law enforcement officer is going to risk his life for that kind of money? So, we have to look at the welfare of these people because fighting insecurity is holistic.
“We also have the problem of lack of political will. Unless something happens to someone who is in government, the wheels of the law don’t turn as fast as they should.
So, we need to look at things holistically. You can’t completely wipe out insecurity; it is impossible. But mitigating it is what we are harping on. We can’t leave it to the law enforcement agencies alone. We have to do our own bits. So, the Citizens Summit is for everybody to know that
they are an integral part of ensuring that the country is secure.” He said the organisation would continue to hold the summit regularly, adding that “security is an ongoing concern. You can’t see your house burning without trying to do something about it.”
