N13.3b Approves For Community Policing

Community policing is one of the measures adopted to consolidate efforts aimed at containing the security situation in the country.

The Buhari administration has approved N13.3 billion for the take-off of Community Policing initiative across the country.

The funding was disclosed at the National Economic Council (NEC) held virtual on Thursday (the 6th in 2020).

The meeting was chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, with state governors, FCT Minister, CBN Governor and some federal cabinet officials in attendance.

The meeting resolved that the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, with two other governors, meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Finance Minister and the Inspector General of Police to coordinate the proper utilization of the funding of the initiative.

The National Economic Council (NEC) Ad-hoc Committee on Security and Policing, had made a presentation on its assignment to the Council noting that engagement with key stakeholders on the operationalization of community policing in the country was in ongoing.

The presentation was made by Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum.

Other reports received by Council at today’s meeting included reports on the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country; flood disaster risk management in Nigeria for 2020, and the issue of compensation payments regarding Federal Highway projects across the country.

One of the reports on COVID-19 pandemic was presented by NEC’s Adhoc committee, which interfaced with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

The second was presented by Nigerian Centre for Disease Control.

In response, the State governors commended the efforts and commitment of the Federal Government in containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting States’ response capacity through various interventions.

The NCDC report indicates that the positivity rate has fallen from 19.7% in June to 13.7% in August 2020, while number of states with testing laboratories increased from 2 to 32, including the FCT.

According to the status report presented to the council, “the average tests per day has risen from 500 at the onset of the outbreak to 3,500 today, while the daily laboratory testing capacity increased to 10,000.”

Council also received recommendations from the Adhoc committee some of which include:

• The states and FCT to look for ways of up-scaling the communication at the grass-root level/ non-compliance to non-pharmaceutical interventions.

•The need for states and FCT to explore the suggested use of local networks and traditional institutions such as Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) to re-orient the people at the grassroots who had continuously lived in denial of the pandemic but rather chose to display nonchalant attitude towards all the laid down protocols.

• States and FCT should engage the services of the respected community influencers such as the heads of “Area Boys”, market women, and villagers, in disseminating the same message to the grass root using different modes/media that are common to such people and could easily attract their attention.

Other highlights of the meeting are as follows:

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning reported to Council that the under listed accounts as at 18th August 2020 were as follows:

i. EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT (ECA)

Balance as at 18th August 2020 = $72,408,119.44

ii. STABILIZATION FUND ACCOUNT

Balance as at 18th August 2020 = N44, 207, 377,110.34

iii. NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FUND ACCOUNT

Balance as at18th August 2020 = N144, 047, 195, 020.54