Politics
COMMUNITY stakeholders on Wednesday underscored the need to strengthen resilience as a strategy for improving security at the grassroots and safety across Nigeria.
The stakeholders made the call during the one-day leadership workshop on “Strengthening Community Resilience for Security and Safety in Nigeria”, held at Magretta Hall, Ekoro Road, Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Mr Abiodun Ejigbadero, the Chairman of Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, said that community resilience was critical to national safety.
Ejigbadero, represented by his Vice Chairman, Mr Kehinde Shobayo, said that lasting security does not come only from the armed forces or police, but also from residents working together to protect their neighbourhoods.
He identified shared vigilance, youth engagement, local intelligence, crisis response and social unity as the five pillars for strengthening community security.
“Security is a shared responsibility. When we look out for our neighbours, we build a community that cannot be easily broken,” the chairman said.
Also speaking, Mr Ernest Kasumu, the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA, urged Community Development Associations (CDAs) to take ownership of grassroots security.
Kasumu said that CDAs remained the first line of defence and should collaborate closely with residents and security agencies through intelligence gathering and timely information sharing.
“Community development associations are recognised by law to complement government efforts in security, welfare and development,” he said.
The Chairman of CDC, Egbe-Idimu LCDA, Mr Rabiu Kazeem, said that collaboration among CDAs across councils was essential for effective community policing.
Also, Mr Olanrewaju Ilori, Head, Command and Control Centre, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), urged communities to establish emergency response teams in every CDA.
Ilori, who represented the Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Mr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said that the team would enhance disaster preparedness and ensure faster response during emergencies.
He said that disaster preparedness was central to resilience.
“Prevention is cheaper than reaction. Communities must be empowered to detect and report threats early,” Ilori said. (NAN)
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Tags: Community stakeholders security