Governor Wike wants Britain to help Rivers State create neighbourhood safety corps agency

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has asked the British government to support his administration in developing a State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency in a bid to guarantee security and protect lives and property.

 

Like most of Nigeria's states, Rivers faces security challenges including attacks from Fulani cattle herdsmen, armed robbery, kidnapping and violent crime. However, because the Nigeria Police Force is controlled by the federal government in Abuja, state governors are powerless to combat the menace as police commissioners do not report to them.

 

Governor Wike has subsequently resolved to establish a safety corps agency that will work with security bodies like the police and the military. Speaking while receiving the UK Department for International Development team at Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, he said Rivers State required training support for the agency operatives.

 

He added: “Virtually all states in Nigeria have security challenges. We have established the neighbourhood safety corps agency to help the security agencies with critical information to fight crime.

 

“Such information will help the security agencies nip crimes in the bud. We need assistance for the provision of necessary security training aids for operatives of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency“.

 

Governor Wike also urged the British government to partner with Rivers State in the area of agricultural development. He added: “One of our key areas of priority is agriculture.

 

"We want to partner with you to develop all forms of agriculture. This is necessary because we are interested in using agriculture to create employment for our youths and in this sector, we are looking at crop farming, fishery and poultry.”

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