Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has called on citizens, businesses and philanthropic organisations to take greater responsibility for security by contributing generously to the newly launched Abia State Security Trust Fund.
Speaking at the official launch of the Fund, on Wednesday, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Governor Otti described security as a “shared responsibility”, stressing that safeguarding communities must go beyond government action alone.
“To counter the enormous cost of security crisis, all of us are invited to always take more than a passing interest in security issues in our neighbourhoods, places of business, and in the larger community.
“Security is an extremely expensive venture, but again, the alternative is a whole lot more expensive.
“Our option at every point is to either make the necessary commitments to keep our communities safe or transfer the obligation to someone else and make ourselves vulnerable to the cost of inaction”, the Governor stated.
He revealed that the Trust Fund, established under the Abia State Security Trust Fund Law 2024, will mobilise and manage resources to strengthen security infrastructure across the state.
According to the Governor, Funds raised will support procurement of modern equipment, recruitment, training and operational needs of security agencies, as well as investment in intelligence and surveillance technology.
Govenor Otti while noting that the launch of ‘Operation Crush’, an interagency operation, is the evidence of his administration’s resolve to rid the State of crime also emphasised that security successes over the past two years stem from a “holistic” approach, including investment in social infrastructure, youth reorientation among others.
The Governor who commended security personnel in the State for their sacrifices, announced a donation of ₦500 million from Moneyside Capital Partners and expressed confidence that the Trust Fund would help Abia remain one of Nigeria’s safest states.
He urged donors to redeem their pledges promptly, assuring stakeholders that all contributions will be judiciously managed to sustain peace and enable residents to “go to bed each night and sleep with both eyes closed”.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mrs Nkiruka Onyejeocha, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to security, stressing that peace and stability in States will positively impact national security.
Onyejeocha said security should not be left solely to security agencies, urging citizens to be vigilant and report suspicious activities, noting that security agencies “need community collaboration to carry out their duties effectively”.
In his address, the Chairman of the Abia State Security Trust Fund (ASSTF) Board of Trustees, Mr Stanley Obiamarije, described the event as “a pivotal moment” in Abia’s journey towards a safer and more prosperous state.
Represented by his Vice, Mr Johnson Chukwu, Obiamarije praised Governor Alex Otti’s “unwavering political will, visionary leadership, and actionable commitment.l”, adding that Abia had seen a marked shift from past governance, particularly in security and infrastructure.
Obiamarije explained that the Fund, established by law, would operate as a public-private partnership to mobilise resources for equipping security agencies, providing logistics, communication tools, surveillance equipment and other support.
He urged businesses, individuals, religious and traditional institutions, and civil society to complement government efforts, assuring stakeholders of transparency and accountability in managing the Fund.
The event which was chaired by Ideh John Udeagbala, featured a minute’s silence in honour of officers who lost their lives keeping the state safe.
