By Tayo Joseph Lagos, Nigeria
Today, Rivers State stands as one of Nigeria’s safest destinations for business and leisure. It has turned out as Nigeria’s centre of conferences, international meetings and religious programmes because of the secure environment.
Between 2016 and 2017, more than fifty National and International Conferences held in Rivers State. This vote of confidence in the security framework of the state attracted over 200,000 high class visitors at different times.
In terms of financial statistics, these conferences and meetings injected billions of naira into the Rivers economy. Hotel accommodation, commercial transportation, souvenirs trade and small scale food vendors experienced economic prosperity.
Some of the major conferences and events held include: The 2016 NBA Annual General Conference, the 2016 Magistrates Association of Nigeria Conference, two PDP National Conventions, West African Golf Tournament, 2017 National Council for Agriculture, Rotary International Conference, West African International Conference and Nigeria Guild of Editors Conferences.
Only recently, the state-wide Rivers Golden Jubilee attracted thousands of Nigerians to the state without any untoward incident.
This secure environment is the outcome of the high level investments in the relevant architecture by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
Over the last two years, Governor Wike initiated and signed into law the anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism law passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly. The law gave the security agencies the legal instrument to tackle kidnappers and cultists .
To strengthen the security architecture of the state; Governor Wike in the course of the last two years, has distributed over 150 security vans to all the security agencies in the state to fight crime.
The Wike administration has also procured six armoured personnel carriers, while 50 broken down armoured personnel carriers have been rehabilitated by the Rivers State Government for use of security agencies.
The administration has restored and sustained monthly subvention to security agencies. This is significant because the immediate past APC administration in the state failed to release funds to security agencies for over three years.
To improve marine security, Governor Wike procured and handed over 8 Security Gunboats to the Nigerian Navy. The process of the acquisition of 13 more security vans for the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Police has been activated by Governor Wike.
More than 20 security gunboats have been rehabilitated by the Wike administration and put to use by the security agencies operating in the state.
Cooperating with the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, NNS Pathfinder, the Rivers State Government completed residential quarters for Naval personnel at the Naval Base in Rumuolumeni.
SUCCESSFUL AMNESTY PROGRAMME
As a popularly elected governor with immense love for his people, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in liaison with security agencies and security experts worked out a unique amnesty programme to enthrone lasting peace in the state.
Prior to setting up the committee that drove the amnesty programme directly on the field, Governor Wike personally led by example. He led security operatives to the homes and shrines of identified cultists and kidnappers in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, where their hideouts were destroyed, acquired by the state government and deployed for public good.
For sixty days, the Rivers State Government initiated and implemented a different variant of the Amnesty programme . This variant was built on the platform of integrity , transparency, accountability and voluntary participation .
The State Amnesty Programme has been very successful. At the end of the first phase 22, 430 cultists accepted amnesty and surrendered 911 assorted arms with 7661 assorted ammunitions and 147 explosives. This has made the state relatively peaceful.
Governor Wike personally supervised the public destruction of all the arms recovered. These arms were burnt in the presence of journalists.
As a man of peace, launched the second phase of the Amnesty Programme specifically dedicated to the Ogoni speaking local government areas.
Security Beyond Propaganda
The improved security situation in Rivers State can only continue to get better. There may be a few security infractions , but the solid security framework established under the leadership of Governor Wike has ensured that Rivers State remains the only state without major pipeline vandalism, while other economic activities continue without obstruction across the state.
The fundamentals of safety and security attained in Rivers State have reached a level where sponsored propaganda cannot negatively affect the rapid development of the state.
