Imo to establish ‘state security organisation’

The Imo government has signed a bill for the establishment of a state-owned security organisation.

Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, disclosed this on Tuesday after he signed the executive bill into law, following the passage by the state house of assembly.

Imo has witnessed a series of attacks over the past months, with government facilities razed, while security agents have also been killed, and prisoners have escaped from custody.

In a statement after the signing of two bills — including another on the establishment of the Imo land administration and geographic information service — Uzodimma said the setup of the security organisation is to support other agencies in tackling crime in the state.

“Today, we signed two Executive Bills into law. The bills, which borders on security and land matters were passed by the Imo state House of Assembly (IMHA). The Bills are: A bill for a law to establish Imo State Security Organization to assist in maintaining Law and Order in the State and Related Matters therein; a bill for a law establishing the Imo State Land Administration and Geographic Information Service for the purpose of regulating land administration in Imo State and other related matters therein,” the governor said.

“During my address, I pointed out that the first law could not have come at a more auspicious time than now, owing to the security challenges of Imo State and Nigeria presently which are characterised by militancy, politically influenced violence, assassinations, attacks on police and police formations, kidnapping and the rest of other crimes.

“To address the above challenges therefore, the government decided to send the all important Imo Security Organisation Bill to the House of Assembly for considerstion and passage. The objective of the security law is to assist the law enforcement agencies in the maintenance of law and order and to ensure the security of lives and property in Imo State.

“The law will equally assist in preventing unauthorised persons from being in possession of firearms and also collect intelligence that will assist security agencies in Imo State to go into action and do their work better.

“On the other hand, the Imo State Land Administration and Geographic Information Service Law is meant to address the hydra-headed petitions and complaints about illegal land acquisition by individual and past administration whose judicial inquiry has snowballed into white paper recommendations and gazettes meant to sanitise land administrations in the State.

“The Agency established under this law will be in-charge of the automation of land and property information in the State with the main objective of identifying land ownership, in providing customer care experience as well as a platform for data aggregation that will enhance smart, effective and efficient governance in land administration.”