Presidency approves N13bn to pay community policing volunteers nationwide

By INNOCENT OWEH, Abuja

Efforts to curb the spate of insecurity in the country may have seen President Muhammadu Buhari approving the sum of N13.3billion for the take-off of the Community Policing Initiative across the country.

The President mentioned this on Monday, at the Presidential Villa Abuja, while declaring open the mid-term ministerial performance review retreat, which serves as mechanism for tracking the performance of his cabinet members.

Recall that while there has been increased agitations for the creation of state police, especially over heightened security constraints, the Federal Government has allegedly feigned ignorance to such demands in preference for community policing volunteers.

Recall also that Buhari recently took many by surprise when he sacked two of his ministers over alleged under performance, a move many applauded and encouraged.

Both the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Sabo Nanono and that of Power, Sale Mamman fell victims to the lay-off exercise, marking the first time the President weilded the big stick against his political appointees.

In addition to this, Buhari said to address over-dependence on other countries for military equipment and logistics, he had instructed the Defence Ministry to create “a modest military industrial complex for the local production of weapons to meet some of the requirements of the country’s armed forces.

He stated that this is being implemented under the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), a military department responsible for arms manufacture.

“As part of the efforts towards strengthening our national security, we have increased investments in arms, weapons and other necessary equipment; expanded the National Command and Control Centre to nineteen states of the Federation; and established a Nigerian Police Trust Fund, which will significantly improve funding for the Nigeria Police Force.

“We have also approved the sum of N13.3 billion for the take-off of the Community Policing initiative across the Country, as part of measures adopted to consolidate efforts aimed at enhancing security nationwide”.

Speaking on the essence of the retreat Buhari told participants, that in view of our current economic challenges, and the need to consolidate on our achievements over the past year, the event was designed to: review the performance of each Minister in delivering the Ministerial Mandates, including programmes and projects assigned to them upon their appointment in 2019; identify key impediments to implementation; and re-strategize on how to accelerate delivery of results, given the current economic situation.

He said the retreat also provides the opportunity to effectively evaluate the activities of the Ministries over the last two years in delivering promises to Nigerians.

He reminded Ministers to work closely with Permanent Secretaries to ensure accelerated and effective delivery of the policies, programmes and projects in their respective priority areas. (Daily Independent)