Insecurity: Senate recommends Community Policing, decentralization as way forward 

As part of measures to solving insecurity in Nigeria, the Senate has recommended that de-centralizing the Nigeria Police Force and community policing will go a long way proffering solutions.

This formed part of the submission of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Nigeria Security Challenges considered and approved during plenary on Tuesday. 

Recall that the upper chamber had set up an Ad-hoc Committee on Security Challenges on January 29, 2020 chaired by the Senate Leader, Yahaya A. Abdullahi.

The Senate, in a statement by its spokesman, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said the committee, in its report, made wide ranging recommendations approved by the chamber.

The Senate urged the executive arm of government to direct the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Inspector General of Police to “decentralize the police command structure with operational and budgetary powers” vested in the zonal commands. 

The upper chamber also urged the Federal Government to set up Zonal Security Advisory Committees at each Zonal Command to advise on the security challenges facing each zone.

The composition of the Zonal Advisory Council as proposed by the Senate include; Governors in the Zone; Zonal AIG of Police; State Commissioners of Police in the Zone; State Directors of the Department of State Security Service; Zonal Immigration Officers; Zonal Customs Officers; and Representative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps in the Zone.

Others are: Representative of the Nigeria Correctional Service in the Zone; Chairmen of State Traditional Rulers Council in the Zone; Faith-based Leaders in the Zone; Civil Society Representatives in the Zone; Representative of Senators from the Zone; Representative of Members of House of Representatives from the Zone; Representatives of Business Community among others.

Recommendations were also made for the expansion of the State Security Council and constitution of Area Command, Local Government and Ward Level Advisory Councils.

The Senate, accordingly, urged the Federal Government to direct the Ministry of Police affairs and the Inspector General of Police to immediately implement the Community Policing Strategy involving local stakeholders at the grassroots, and traditional rulers with a view to addressing local security challenges.

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