Pulse.ng : Kukah Centre, KDSG collaborate to bolster community-based security

The Kukah Centre on Thursday partnered with the Kaduna State Government towards improving ‘Community Security Initiatives for Accountable Service Delivery’.

The News Agency of NIgeria (NAN) reports that the project is supported by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG).

It is also funded by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), implemented by Tetra Tech International Development in partnership with The Kukah Centre

Mr Terseer Bamber , the Project Manager Improving Community Security Initiatives for Accountable Service Delivery, said the project.was aimed at supporting the strengthening of legal and operational frameworks for state-sanctioned security outfits across Nigeria.

He said the workshop was a validation exercise to review and strengthen the assessment report on the Kaduna State Vigilance Service law, identifying gaps and making recommendations for improvement.

Bamber added that the centre had engaged with the Kaduna State Government officials, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, and conducted an assessment of the law establishing the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVS).

According to him, the goal is to strengthen the service to better tackle security challenges, particularly banditry and kidnapping.

This is by identifying grey areas for improvement and providing supportive recommendations.

“This approach focuses on enhancing the service’s effectiveness rather than criticizing it,*Bamber said.

He disclosed that , The Kukah centre was focusing on two regions, adding that in the North-West, its attention has been on Sokoto, Kaduna and Katsina States.

He said in the North-Central part of Nigeria it was working in Plateau and Benue.

“We are working on implementing a project in these states, with plans to expand to other states in the regions and potentially beyond,” Bamber added.

Also, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Kaduna State , Dr James Kanyip, said the law was first promulgated in 2016 and reviewed in 2021.

Kanyip said the meeting was to review and validate recommendations from The Kuah centre that was assisting the state government in reviewing the law without funding.

He commissioner commended the centre for its efforts and expressed appreciation for its invaluable support.

Kanyip said the final recommendations from the meeting would determine the proposed amendments to the Kaduna State Vigilance Service Law 2021.

Also, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs , Dr Sule Shuaibu, said the purpose of the meeting was to review and provide inputs on the proposed amendments to laws governing the activities of the state vigilance service.

He said the laws in question were promulgated in 2016 and amended in 2021, but some areas still required adjustments to align it with extant international best practices.

The commissioner emphasised the importance of gathering feedbacks from critical stakeholders to ensure the laws were effective and adaptable for KADVS operations.

He also expressed optimism about the proposed amendments, saying that they were apt and important, but also acknowledged the need for careful review to ensure they meet the needs of KADVS and the state.

NAN reports that the stakeholders that participated in the workshop were drawn from the Nigerian Police , DSS, CAN , JNI , Civil Society, traditional institution and the media, among others.