Abia leverages on tele-density to provide digital security

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

Abia has taken advantage of the huge tele-density in the state to embark on the provision of digital security for citizens and residents.

The digital security comes in the form of the introduction of customized digital security cards known as Residents Cards which would be used for identifying her citizens and residents.

Performing the official launching of the Abia State Security Fund meant to provide funding for the state’s integrated security scheme, which simultaneously marked the commencement of the Security Support and  Residents’ Card deployment in the state, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, called on residents to help government drive the initiative by enrolling and obtaining their Resident cards which has security features that make it difficult for forgery.

Any one from 18 years and above are legally required to the Resident card and would be required to pay a harmonized monthly security fee of N200.

Ikpeazu noted that with the launch, Abia has become the first State in Nigeria to embrace  digital security cards  for identifying her citizens.

According to him, the state was leveraging the huge tele-density to ensure that Abia gets security cards to boost security in the state.

He explained that government was planning to integrate both the Abia State Social Identity Number and the Resident’s Card platforms for more synergy.

The Oracle Today gathered that the Abia State Social Identity Number earlier launched by the State government, was different from the Security Support and Resident Card, and is geared  towards collating statistics from all residents of the state for planning,  addressing unemployment issues and demographic distribution of infrastructure and resources, among others.

Addressing the cream of Abians who graced the launch at the Michael Okpara Auditorium Thursday, including top officials of the State Government, Heads of Security Agencies in the State, Local Government Chairmen, Traditional Rulers and Religious Leaders, among others, Ikpeazu noted that Abia was at the centre of seven South East and South South States, with tendencies of security challenges, as being witnessed in the State and across other States of the federation.

He thanked the immediate-past governor of the State and Senator representing Abia Central, Senator T.A.Orji, for the initiative of instituting the programme, when he was Governor, as a platform to help raise financial support for the security architecture in the onerous task of securing the lives and property of Abians and her residents.

The Governor stressed the need for synergy among the South East governments with a view to nipping in the bud, cross-boundary crimes, adding that the Abia State Residents’ Card’s will help identify genuine residents.

In his contribution, the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyị, represented by Mr. Matthew Oboechi, a former Director of the Department of State Security in Abia, also stressed the need for synergy among the Governors and security agencies in the South East, as well as information sharing among the conventional security agencies and others who are being instituted to help secure the region.

He commended Ikpeazu for taking steps to enhance security and making Abia State safe.

Chairman of the occasion, Senator Theodore Orji, identified various forms of insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry, farmers /herders clashes, among others, and observed that Ikpeazu was rising to the occasion of tackling them.

He appealed to all to support the state Governor and government, both morally and financially, in achieving adequate security in the State and thanked his successor for carrying on with the programs and policies he left for him.

Earlier, Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Chris Ezem, had said that the initiative was the first of its kind as it was backed by law earlier assented to by the Governor.

Ezem said Nigeria was facing security challenges in every part of the country but expressed joy that Ikpeazu has ensured that Abia was secure, assuring that the State would not relent in achieving the needed security and urged all to acquire the resident card.

Coordinator of the Abia State Security Fund, Mr Darlington Anyanwu, while giving an overview of the Security Support and Resident Card, said the initiative was created to source funds and equipment from stakeholders to support and complement the state government’s efforts in providing adequate security for Abia residents, as well as ensure that all security agencies perform their statutory role efficiently and effectively without hitch.