• Why we are partnering with police – Osagie
By Neta Nwosu
Barely three days to the national security summit organised by the Nigeria Police, in collaboration with The Sun Publishing Limited, governors and other stakeholders have enlisted to participate.
This is coming at a time when the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Eric Osagie, has explained why the newspaper company is partnering the police in the summit.
The security summit, coming up on Monday, August 17, 2015, with the theme, “Community Partnership Approach to Internal Security and Crime Management,” holds at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
In response to invitation, governors across the country have said they will not only participate, but also play key role in the summit, which is coming when insecurity has become a source of concern to all Nigerians.
One of the governors said that the summit could not have come at a better time than now, when the military is battling insurgency in the Northeast to not only flush out terrorists, but also to secure the country and maintain its territorial integrity.
Another governor said since the summit is focusing on community policing, it would help the states, the police and communities to know how to partner to protect life and property
Just as governors are enthusiastic about the summit, traditional rulers and stakeholders in the security sector are excited that the summit is holding within the first 100 days in office of President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to them, the summit would serve as a defining moment for the Federal Government, as Buhari has given heads of the military three months to end insurgency.
Meanwhile, The Sun Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Osagie, has formally revealed why the organisation is partnering the Nigeria Police on this project.
Osagie stated that to effectively fight crime and check the increasing rate of insecurity in the country, the Nigeria Police, charged with the primary responsibility of enforcing laws within the country, must engage the communities, where they operate and are meant to protect.
Underpinning the role of the mass media in the effective policing, therefore, the Managing Director said: “The media plays a key role in this process of engagement, because it helps the Police and other security agencies with the publicising of concerns and solutions that will impact the community.
“The Sun Publishing Limited, as a responsible corporate citizen, which places high premium on the life of the average Nigerian and believes in a free and safe society as a requirement for the prosperity of the nation, therefore, has decided to enter into partnership with the Nigeria Police so as to bridge the existing gap between the Force and the people.”
He said the relevance of the media cannot be over-emphasised in effective and efficient policing as well as creating collaborative partnerships among government security agencies, businesses, communities and citizens to better implement public safety strategies.
“The media, by virtue of their responsibilities, are natural partners with law enforcement agencies. Media provides the connecting and communication platform that is crucial in creating meaningful partnerships for effective policing,” Osagie explained.
He gave assurance that this partnership with the Nigeria Police will continue long after the summit ends.
The National Security Summit is geared towards facilitating a meeting of all relevant stakeholders from all walks of life to make informed input into concerted efforts of the Police and other security agents.
Heads of military and para-military agencies, National Security Adviser, governors, principal officers of the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly, security experts, traditional rulers, corporate chieftains and religious leaders are expected to participate at the summit.
Others include chairmen and secretaries of political parties, ambassadors of foreign countries, labour leaders, presidents of professional bodies, chairmen of ethnic forums and civil society groups.