Writing By Ismai’l Adamu; Editing By Godwin Duru
The Kukah Center has launched a program to provide legal support and training to the Katsina State Community Watch Corps in order to strengthen its capacity to safeguard communities in the state against banditry and other security challenges.
The initiative is being implemented in four other states of Kaduna, Plateau, Benue and Sokoto under the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) project which is funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in partnership with Tetra Tech International.
At the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Katsina State government to mark the commencement of the project, the Kukah Center Project Manager, Mr. Terseer Bamber, explained that the initiative adopts a community-driven approach which is in line with best in conflict resolution and peace building.
He said the signing of the MoU marks the commencement of the one-year project which entails reviewing and strengthening the legal framework of the state security outfit and training its personnel to better address the security challenges bedeviling the state.
“Each of the five states has its own unique security challenges but what they have in common is state security outfits which are working with security agencies to provide security. However, some of the laws establishing these security outfits are not comprehensive enough to provide the needed backing that they need to operate, and the personnel operating most of the outfits also lack adequate training.
“This is why we are coming in with legal and operational support, that is to review and strengthen the legal framework of these state security outfits and also to provide training for their personnel in order to improve their capacity to deliver on their mandate which is providing security for their communities”, Mr. Bamba said.
He pointed out that in the course of implementing the project, the center will engage community leaders, youth groups, Civil Society Organizations and implementing partners that include the state ministries of Justice, Internal Security, and Budget and Planning.
The Memorandum of Understanding was co-signed by the Permanent Secretaries of the Katsina State Ministry of Justice and that of Budget and Planning before a cross section of stakeholders that will be involved in the project implementation.
In this remarks shortly after signing the document, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Planning, Alhaji Kabir Bazariye, expressed the state government’s willingness to provide all forms of support required to ensure the success of the partnership.
He expressed appreciation to the, FCDO, Kukah Center and other implementing partners for their commitment to security and peace building in the state.
Isma’il Adamu
