C-River Moves To Boost Security With Community Network

• ‘People’s First’ agenda on course – Ironbar

BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – In a bold move to improve the security of lives and property across the State, the Cross River State Government (CRSG) is set unveil a Community-based Security Network (CSN) outfit.

Conceived to strengthen internal structures towards checking all forms of security threats and infractions, the CSN is to operate in partnership with all the local government councils’ administrations in the state.

Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Emmanuel Ironbar, who dropped the hints at the celebration of his one year in office, explained that modalities are being fine-tuned for the hitch-free and smooth take off the CSN project.

He said the State youth populace would form the nucleus of the Network membership with specific mandate to assist relevant security agencies in ensuring crime and criminality are put under check in Cross River.

According to him, the CSN members would be expected to carry out surveillance activities within their respective localities while reporting suspicious movements and activities of unfamiliar persons to the relevant authorities for immediate action.

Ironbar assured that the Governor Bassey Otu-led “People First” administration is determined to ensure Cross River remains peaceful and safe for all residents as well as visitors to carry out their legitimate businesses without any fear of molestation.

However, admitting that State government alone cannot meaningfully engage the teeming number of youths roaming the streets in search of employment opportunities or provide political appointments for them, Ironbar said the administration had to think outside the box on the immediate way of addressing the issue.

He stated that this resulted in the government’s decision to deploy strategies that would engage the youths meaningfully even on an interim basis with the hope that at every month end, they should have ‘palliative’ allowances for their upkeeps

Hon Ironbar also appealed for patience among members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that everyone cannot be appointed into political offices at the same time.

This is as he said the doors of government’s appointment has been totally closed against those yet to be recognized since more appointments would come as the need arises within the system.

Aldo speaking in the same vain the Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, reiterated Governor Otu’s commitment to his ‘People First’ agenda, stressing that the administration would not relent in rolling out proactive programmes aimed at impacting the people’s lives positively.

Akiba, who lamented that many are yearning for political appointments, even when such opportunities are limited, said the governor would always ensure the youths are meaningfully engaged but not necessarily through political appointments or patronage.