Security Boost Excites RSG, As Investors Return

by Kevin Nengia

Efforts by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike-led administration to check crime and other social vices have started yielding fruits as investors have started returning to the state.

The revelation was made by Governor Wike when he played host to the Inspector-General of the Police, Solomon Arase, in Government House,  Port Harcourt.

The governor further disclosed that, “when your IGR(Internally Generated Revenue) is improving, then you will know that investors are coming back…We are winning the war against crime.”

He lauded security agencies for their effort in the fight against crime

Wike described the visit of the IGP as timely, recalling that before he assumed office on May 29th  the state was almost grounded with numerous security challenges ranging from cultism, armed robbery and kidnapping but lauded the police for its effort to restore the state to normalcy.

Wike further said that the team work which the state government and police had displayed has started yielding fruit.

The governor emphasised that as far as his administration was concerned security was a priority since that would restore investors confidence and boost economic activities.

Wike reaffirmed the readiness of his administration to provide the necessary logistics and support to ensure that security agencies achieve maximum results, as he announced financial and moral support to families of any security personnel who loses their loved ones in the course of duty.

To underscore government readiness to fight crime and social vices, the governor disclosed that the state House of Assembly has already amended the anti-kidnapping and cultism laws such that the property of any person found guilty would be confiscated.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase was full of praises for Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike over the  successes recorded so far in curbing crime in the state.

He declared that, “ In the past one month, I have been able to follow the developments in the state, and I can say that we are on course, thought we are not there yet.”

He added that, “ I was actually happy when I heard that you want to contribute to the internal management of security of the state, not only that but in terms of the traffic situation which has become so chaotic due to lots of reconstruction works.”

The Police IG pledged the readiness of the men of Nigeria Police to work hard to ensure that  the state was free of crimes and other social vices.

He, however, called on those in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them or face the full wrath of the law, as he reasoned that, “ we cannot continue to live like this because we require good governance, and good governance cannot thrive in a state of insecurity.”

Meanwhile, Governor Wike has announced the sum of N5million for any security personnel who loses his or life and N1million for members of the public who provide vital information to aid security agencies in their work.

Wike, while speaking after the official unveiling of the vehicles the government donated to security agencies  at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt, said the gesture was to underscore the degree of importance the administration attached to security matters and to boost morale of officers.

The governor handed over 64 patrol vans to both police and joint security teams to beef up security surveillance in the state.

“The most important role of government is to protect lives and property, hence, this administration will not shirk from that responsibility”, he emphasised.

Out of the 64 patrol vehicles, Wike disclosed that 34 would go to the joint patrol, while 30 would be for the police patrol.

He reiterated that there is no excuse to justify crime, hence the quest by the government to fight crime head-on.

He called on security agencies to utilize the vehicles properly.

Wike, however, called on the Federal Government to provide the necessary tools for security agencies to work effectively, since the state and the private sector were only playing a supporting role.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, while unveiling the vehicles, promised that the police would do all in its powers to restore the state to its status as the Garden City of Nigeria.

Arase challenged the security agencies to use the vehicles to improve the lots of Rivers citizens, while charging them to carry out their duties in a civil manner by  not infringing on the rights of the common people.

Rivers State Police Commissioner, Chris Ezike, described the donation as a morale booster, saying, “with the vehicles, response time and confidence will improve and security visibility and public confidence will also improve.”

He commended the gesture of the Wike-led administration for its partnership to boost security, and warned criminal elements to desist from their actions or face the full weight of the law.

Culled from www.thetidenewsonline.com