As part of measures adopted to consolidate efforts aimed at containing security situation in the country, Federal Government has approved N13.3 billion for the take-off of Community Policing initiative across the country.
Accordingly, National Economic Council (NEC) at its virtual meeting on Thursday (the 6th in 2020), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, with state governors, FCT Minister, CBN Governor and some federal cabinet officials in attendance, resolved that Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, with two other governors, meet with Secretary to Government of the Federation, Finance Minister and Inspector General of Police to coordinate the proper utilization of the funding of the initiative.
National Economic Council (NEC) Ad-hoc Committee on Security and Policing, had made a presentation on its assignment to Council noting that engagement with key stakeholders on the operationalization of community policing in the country was ongoing. The presentation was made by Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is also Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum.
Other reports received by Council included reports on Covid-19 situation in the country; flood disaster risk management in Nigeria for 2020, and the issue of compensation payments regarding Federal Highway projects across the country.
Responding to two presentations on the situation of Covid-19 in Nigeria: one by NEC’s Adhoc committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, and the other by Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, State governors commended the efforts and commitment of Federal Government in containing spread of the disease and supporting States’ response capacity through various interventions.
NCDC report indicates that the positivity rate has fallen from 19.7% in June to 13.7% in August 2020, while number of states with testing laboratories increased from 2 to 32, including FCT.
According to the status report presented to the council, “the average tests per day has risen from 500 at the onset of the outbreak to 3,500, while the daily laboratory testing capacity increased to 10,000.”
Council also received recommendations from the Adhoc committee some of which include:
• The states and FCT to look for ways of upscaling communication at the grass-root level/ non-compliance to non-pharmaceutical interventions.
• The need for states and FCT to explore the suggested use of local networks and traditional institutions such as Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) to re-orient the people at the grassroots who had continuously lived in denial of the pandemic but rather chose to display nonchalant attitude towards all the laid down protocols.
• States and FCT should engage services of respected community influencers such as heads of “Area Boys”, market women, and villagers, in disseminating the same message to the grass root using different modes/media that are common to such people and could easily attract their attention.
PT