Abia Introduces Residency Card, Set To Relaunch Security Fund

As part of stringent measures to strengthen its internal secu­rity, Abia State has introduced issuance of Residency Cards to residents while it plans to re-­launch the State Security Fund.

Speaking when he led oth­er members of the state com­mittee on the launching of the State Security Support Fund/ Deployment of Fund and issu­ance of Resident Card on a sen­sitisation and interaction visit to the NUJ Secretariat, Chairman of the Committee, Okey Ihedioha, said their visit was to meet with members of the Union ahead of the official launch.

Ihedioha, who also is the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government in Charge of Special Service, disclosed that the security of lives and prop­erty of residents should not be left to government alone but should be assisted by residents through the Security Fund.

“The essence of the launch is to raise funds to assist secu­rity agencies in ensuring that the state is kept safe. We are aware of the Security Chal­lenges that have confronted the country in recent times, so, the state government has, through the Fund, taken the pro-active measure to curb the Insecurity threats.”

He recalled that the Security Fund concept was initiated by the administration of former governor, Theodore Orji and was not gazetted into law, “un­til the administration of Gov­ernor Okezie Ikpeazu enacted a Law on March, 2020, through the State House of Assembly to give it a legal backing, which makes it compulsory for every indigene, residents and organ­isations operating or trans­acting business with the state government.

He said the committee has already met with other interest groups in the state in its sensiti­sation of the people on the need to identify with the initiative.

Security Adviser to the State Governor, Captain Awa Udon­si, said the primary function of government is the protection of lives and property of the cit­izens, “Today, Nigeria is facing security challenges, Abia State has border by seven States, si, any breach in Security affect­ing any of these States would definitely affect Abia State.

He revealed that the state government spends much to maintain the existing peace and security of the State, “Se­curity is cost intensive, you can not engage somebody to get you information without providing such person with materials.