Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has said that the quest for security and national development can only be achieved through the national security frame work that reoriented children and the youth.
Speaking during the flag off of the Abia state safe school programme in umuahia, Gov. Ikpeazu stated that the business of security and policing is the responsibility of all and sundry which required a strong synergy between the law enforcement agencies and relevant security stakeholders.
Represented by his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, the governor harped on the need for citizens to see crime and security management as a joint obligation of the citizens, communities and the state at large. He reassured of government’s commitment to achieve the goal of not only the security of our children and youth but also secured lives and property of all residents of the state.
While maintaining that children must be well secured both at home and schools in liaison with security agencies especially the police, particularly now that the country is contending with serious security challenges include kidnapping, Boko Haram, killer herdsmen, organized armed robbery, child trafficking, terrorism and other violence which are committed under the influence of hard drugs just as he tasked all the security apparatus to check the proliferation of hard and illicit drugs.
The Abia Chief executive described the programme as timely proactive security and preventive strategy conceptualized by his administration and designed to checkmate and prevent juvenile delinquency in our state school system especially at the primary and secondary schools level. He also said that the programme was aimed at restructuring the foundations of Abian children with a view to ensuring a crime free and peaceful society as well as harnessing the safety of pupils,students and staffs in our schools.
Dr ikpeazu commended the organizers of the event for their innovative initiative on the best way to managed the security architecture of the state with special attention to children in primary and secondary schools.
Earlier in his presentation, the coordinator of the state Safe School Program, Nwafor Nwachukwu Nwanganga described the program as a preventive one designed to checkmate and prevent juvenile delinquency in Primary and Post secondary school system in the state just as he disclosed that it hinges on re-orientation and security.
In a vote of thanks, the deputy Chief of Staff to the deputy governor, Dr. Chris Nwagboso said that the programme was timely as it is designed to help provide a proactive security measure in the overall interest for the future leaders.
Dr Nwagboso commended the governor for his giant strides in the security sector and commended the organizers for thoughtful ideas in coming up with the programme.
