A pro-grassroot development advocacy group, Centre for Suatainable Grassroots Development, has said that its expects every well meaning Nigerians to suppprt the recent clamour for law to back the establishment of Community Policing initiative to curb the menace of insecurity ravaging the rural communities in Nigeria.
This, as contained in the statement released to the press by the Executive Director of the organization, Com. Olubodun Tayo Marcus. The team leader said the bottom to top approach in community policing and local intelligence gathering architecture is vital in achieving adequate and sustainable security of lives and properties in various communities in Nigeria.
Com. Marcus said a well secured society engenders sustainable economic development, that no society can experience accelerated development without getting its security architecture and discharge system correctly.
He hailed the Federal Government for changing its perception of Amotekun, Western Nigeria Security Network and supporting Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NIFU, to ensure that local government administrations enjoy independence on how they discharge their resources for community development through statutory allocation.
That the only vital organ of the society that needs adequate attention to withness sutainable development is a working grassroot security mechanism, Comminty Policing, in which an average Nigerian repose confidence
Com. Tayo Marcus also commended the National Assembly for amending the constitution to ensure that the local government system is autonomy, while encouraging lawmarkers at State Assemblies to follow suit in order to strengthen our democracy. He appreciated the National leadership of National Union of Local Government Employee, NULGE, for being consistent in the agitation for an efficient, responsive and autonomous Local Government system in Nigeria.
He opined that people must be encouraged to not only take ownership of their security but also be given the opportunity to be part of decision making on how they can properly be secured. He said it will enhance reduction in emergency response time and equally motivate rural dwellers to have needed confidence to flush out the bad eggs among them, and give vital security intelligence.
“Effective grassroot security mechanisms through community policing will engender accelerated sustainable grassroot and rural economic development that will discourage rural-urban migration. This will naturally discongest urban settlements which will also positively affect distribution of resources and make the urban atmosphere more habitable.
Majority of the rural dwellers in Nigerian communities are agrarian and peasant farmers, securing our various society will ensure food security. Our farmers, without fear of any danger, can farm and be efficiently to boost food production and also be in a better position to contribute to the development of the society because a better policed community and a more secured society is pivotal to sustainable grassroots economic development.” Marcus said.