Given that security is now our biggest challenge, the 2023 presidential candidates should be proposing getting the National Assembly to pass an Amotekun Bill which will then by implemented across all six geo-political zones

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Given that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is totally overwhelmed by the security situation, it is crystal clear that we need at least one new later of security. As things stand, the NPF lacks the capacity to respond to distress calls and attacks taking place up and down the country

[2] We will thus create regional security forces along the same lines as Amotekun. For them to become operational, they must be approved by their state houses of assembly and these bodies will operate across their geo-political zones to prevent governors using them as private armies

[3] By 2025, to become an Amotekun officer, the minimum academic qualification you must have is four O'Levels. This is going to be a professional outfit that engages in community policing and treats members of the public with respect, courtesy and dignity. It will have a strict disciplinary code too that will be exemplary

[4] Amotekun will have a hierarchy structure identical to that of the Nigerian Police Force. If you join as a university graduate, you will be an assistant superintendent. All Amotekun operatives will be trained to provide first aid, antenatal, emergency healthcare and paramedical services. If a woman is giving birth for instance, they will be well qualified to deliver that child

[5] In every local government where Amotekun operates, there will be a weekly meeting with the divisional police officer to share intelligence. If need be, the local military commander will be asked to attend such meetings too

[6] Most of Amotekun's funding will come from private sector contributors. Basically, the plan will be to brand Amotekun as Nigeria's investment police. If for instance Nissan, Hewlett Packard, Apple or Dell want to open a manufacturing facility in Nigeria, Amotekun will provide 24 hour protection, guarding their facilities under a three shift structure

[7] International security companies like G4S, Securitas, Mitie, Vision Security Group and OCS will provide constant training for Amotekun staff. Their uniforms must at least be of the same standard as that of airline or bank staff and the minimum wage will be N50,000 a month

[8] Amotekun will have a dedicated anti-rape team made up of female operatives. As about one third of Amotekun's officials will be women, there will be 24-hour attention for victims of sexual assault. Members of the anti-rape team will carry anti-rape kits on them

[9] Each local government area will have one Amotekun office where members of the public can drop in to offer intelligence. They will also have emergency numbers and email addresses where people can offer information anonymously

[10] Amotekun will have a 12-man board of directors who shall be the six state governors, the regional chief executive, a regional controller-general, two appointed females and other traditional military officers. The chair of the geo-political governors forum will be its chairman, while one of the appointed ladies will be a lawyer who serves as its legal adviser and acts as the secretary of the board of directors, while the other will be the finance director. The last thing Nigeria needs is for this to become another group of bandits. The memory of Bakassi Boys is still fresh.