THE Chapter II, Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. One of the ways of fulfilling the security component of this mandate is by funding the security architecture, which the government at both the federal and subnational levels has initiated programmes through the Security Trust Fund (STF) to meet the demand.
The trust fund, currently being prosecuted in Delta State, is a financial mechanism that provides a stable source of funding for security-related activities or initiatives in the state. A Security Trust Fund provides a predictable source of funding for security initiatives and helps in mitigating financial risks associated with security threats, investments in security infrastructure, personnel, and initiatives, while reassuring stakeholders, including investors, customers, and employees, that security is a priority.
It is in recognition of this role and the strategic importance of security in stimulating sustainable socio-economic growth and development that the Delta State Government, recently, launched the State Security Trust Fund. The ceremony held at Government House, Asaba, brought together captains of industry, security chiefs, community leaders, and top government officials.
Established by law in 2013, the Delta State Security Trust Fund was designed as a collaborative platform for mobilizing resources from the private sector to complement the government’s investment in security architecture with a view to creating an ambience that will stimulate sustainable socio-economic growth and development of the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a safer, stronger, and more prosperous state through public-private partnership in security management, explained that the fund would focus on acquiring modern surveillance equipment, operational vehicles, and communication tools, as well as supporting the training and retraining of security personnel and community vigilante groups across the state.
We totally align with the fundamental objectives behind the establishment of the Delta State Security Trust Fund, as well as the position of the state government on the need to build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous state through a robust public-private partnership in security management.
Unarguably, security is a shared responsibility for every well-meaning citizen of the country, irrespective of tribe, religious inclination, and social status. To demonstrate our desire for peace and security, we must, therefore, be genuinely committed and contribute to strengthening the security architecture that will ultimately protect life and property.
This must be deeply engraved in the subconscious mind of every citizen that the issue of security is not the sole responsibility of the government but everyone’s business, as without adequate security, development cannot thrive, businesses cannot operate freely, and investors will be reluctant to commit their resources. It is, therefore, our firm belief that the launching of the Security Trust Fund is a strategic investment in peace, progress, and the protection of lives and property.
While we support the ideological framework behind the establishment of the Security Trust Fund, we call for transparency and accountability in the management of the Fund. To this end, it should be invested in training security personnel and promoting collaboration among security stakeholders because true security can only be achieved through shared responsibility.
In the contemporary global settings, effective crime control has indeed gone digital, and as such, the fund should be used to procure digital devices that would ultimately improve the operational efficiency of security personnel who are on the frontline of duty in security management.
Finally, there is a need to properly integrate well-trained local vigilante groups into the security architecture of the state. These local vigilantes should be trained periodically by either the police or the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). This will help security agencies in the state to comprehensively tackle any emerging security threat, especially in our local communities.
With the launch, Delta State is on the verge of saying goodbye to violent crimes as kidnapping, armed robbery, herdsmen attacks on farmers, and other related crimes in the state.
