A Non Governmental Organisation ActionAid Nigeria, has called for closer collaboration among stakeholders in Kogi State to ensure peace and security in communities across the State.
ActionAid, Resilience Programme Coordinator, Mr Anicetus Atakpu made the call on Thursday in Lokoja during the State Conflict Management Alliance (SCOMA), quarterly meeting held in the office of the Secretary to Kogi State Government.
He said ActionAid has setup the Community Action Response Team, (CART), at community level, local government level and SCOMA at the state level to work in partnership with security agents to ensure that during crises they act fast to prevent it’s escalation.
“Security of life and property is every body’s business and to have adequate security there must be well coordinated security information by having centres in the state capital, local government and wards.
“We have come up with conflict management alliance both at the community level, Local government level and at the state. The idea is to see how we can engage all critical stakeholders both the state actors and non state actors so as to see how best we can contribute our quota to the peace and security of the state.
“This meeting is a good platform where market women, security agents , Civil Society Organisations, the media and others can contribute their quota to the meeting. We are using the SSG office since it is the engine house of the state government and we feel this is an opportunity to be part of the security council to get non state actors to participate in the security affairs of the state.
He pointed out that the meeting has created avenue for the participants to present security issues affecting their communities, noting that the action point of the meeting would be presented to the SSG for onward presentation to the state security council for immediate action.
The Permanent Secretary, office of the Secretary to the State Government, Ephraim OLU Amurawaye, who declared the meeting open commended ActionAid Nigeria for their commitment to ensuring that there is peace in the state .
“There is need for all stakeholders to work together for the purpose of having a peaceful society.
“The state government is fully committed to partner with ActionAid Nigeria through collaboration to ensure there is adequate security of life and property in the state especially in the rural communities where majority of citizens dwelled.
In his welcome remarks, Friday Ogezi, SARVE 11 Project Officer in kogi state, for Systems and Structures Strengthening Approach Against Violent Extremism, (SARVE 11) project, called on participants to come up with suggestions that will help the security agents to function better.
The Systems and Structures Strengthening Approach Against Violent Extremism, (SARVE 11) project, is funded by Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, (GCERF)