The speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, has assured of the commitment of the leadership of the House of Representatives to ensuring adequate funding for intelligence gathering in order to curtail insecurity in Nigeria.
The speaker gave the assurance at a one day public hearing on a bill for an act to establish Nigerian security and intelligence trust fund to provide funding for security related issues apart from usual budgetary provision from the federation, intervene in combating security issues in Nigeria organized by the House Committee on Security and intelligence in Abuja.
The speaker who was represented by Hon. Victor Nwokolo said insecurity had been a major threat to Nigeria leading to the loss of lives and properties.
He said despite the challenges, the security agencies have continued to work with the meager resources at their disposal hence the need for everyone to support the bill to succeed.
Earlier, in his remarks, the sponsor of the bill, who is also the chairman of the committee, Hon Ahmed Satomi, commended all the agencies and stakeholders who attended the hearing, saying that the bill will help address the security challenges bedeviling the country by providing funds for training, research and development for security agencies.
He said kinetic approach alone does not guarantee peace and security but the application of non kinetic approach like funding of intelligence gathering mechanisms will go a long way in ensuring the security of the lives and properties of Nigerians.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen shortly after the public hearing, the commandant General of Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) Navy Captain Umar Bakori (rtd) said the hearing was apt and timely considering the sacrifices made by members of the vigilante, who are present in all 774 local government areas of the country and have been using their personal resources in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria.
Navy Captain Bakori (rtd) said when established, the National Security Trust Fund will go a long way in providing financial support to security organizations like the VGN.
While commenting on the bill which seeks to establish the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, the Commandant General, pointed out that they are very optimistic that the bill will see the light of the day.
Similarly, the Commandant General of Nigerian Forest Security Services, Dr. Joshua Osatimehin Wole, submitted the position of his organization to the committee, saying that the event has afforded all stakeholders the opportunity to contribute to tackling the security challenges bedeviling Nigeria.
Stakeholders present at the event like the armed forces, the Police, Nigerian Custom Service, DSS, Ministry of Defence and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria among others all submitted their positions on the bill.
