NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY CORPS ACTIVITIES BILL PASSES SECOND READING
A Bill for a law to establish Neighbourhood safety Corp in Akwa Ibom State has passed a second reading in the State House of Assembly.
Entitled Akwa Ibom State Neighbourhood Safety Corp Agency, the Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of a regulatory framework for neighborhood safety Corp in the state.
Leading the debate, the member representing Uyo State Constituency, Hon Anietie Eka who is also the lead sponsor of the Bill, said the bill seeks to make law in the state in order to checkmate crime and criminal tendencies in our society.
Hon. Eka said the Bill when passed into law will help the formal security network do their work properly and effectively. He noted that the neighbourhood safety corp shall operate within communities in the state by gathering information about crime in progress, report suspicious activities and criminal suspects among other things.
According to him “Mr. Speaker we are in trouble because one police officer is to protect about Four hundred people but it is not achievable in our society and as such we need informal security network to be of help in combating crime in our state”.
The Lawmaker said the law would make it mandatory for a localized or state sponsored security outfit to assist security agencies in fighting crime in our society.
Hon Anietie Eka pointed out that many states in Nigeria have established neighbourhood safety Corps to help the formal security network in combating crime in their locality and therefore called for establishment of same in Akwa Ibom State.
He appealed for support from other members of the House to enable the Bill to see the light of the day.
Those who spoke in support of the bill were the member representing Ukanafun State Constituency, Hon. Dr. Charity Ido; member representing Itu State Constituency, Hon. Kufreabasi Edidem; The member Representing Esit Eket/Ibeno State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Usoro Akapanusoh; member representing Eket State Constituency, Rt. Hon. David Lawrence Udofa; The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Felicia Bassey and Rt. Hon Aniefiok Dennis of Etinan State Constituency
In his ruling, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, directed the House Committee on Security, Youth and Sport to conduct an in-depth study of the Bill and report back to the House within one month.
Meanwhile, the House has adjourned its plenary to Thursday, 14th May 2020 at 10am.
