By DADA AYOKHAI
The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has sought closer collaboration with security agencies in Edo State, stressing that sustainable development cannot be achieved without adequate security.
The Edo State representative on the Governing Board of the Commission, Barr. Femi Oise Agge, made this known after a stakeholders’ meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.
Agge said the meeting was part of the Commission’s ongoing consultations with critical stakeholders across the South-South region to introduce its vision, build partnerships and identify areas of collaboration.
He said the meeting brought together representatives of seven key security agencies, who pledged their cooperation with the Commission.
“Whatever we are doing, if we don’t have security, then certainly we are going nowhere. It will be a good exercise that amounts to nothing,” Agge said.
According to him, the security agencies are critical stakeholders in the development process because their activities have a direct bearing on the safety and stability required for development projects to succeed.
Agge disclosed that the meeting also provided an opportunity for the Commission and the security agencies to identify areas where they could work together to promote development across the South-South region.
He said the security chiefs further recommended regular meetings to enable both sides to review security situations and strengthen collaboration.
“They have promised full cooperation and also suggested that we should meet regularly so that we can always review situations,” he said.
The engagement with security agencies is coming on the heels of similar consultations with other critical stakeholders in Edo State.
Agge said the Commission had already engaged traditional rulers in Edo Central, as well as youths and women, as part of efforts to ensure broad-based participation in the development agenda of the South-South region.
He maintained that continuous dialogue with stakeholders would enable the SSDC to better understand the challenges confronting the region and build strategic partnerships towards addressing them.
On the part of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Daaor, he described the meeting with the SSDC’s State Coordinator as very significant, emphasizing the importance of stronger collaboration among security agencies.
He said the engagement would focus on identifying security challenges requiring attention and developing joint interventions to improve security services and the safety of residents in Edo State.
Insecurity: SSDC Seeks Collaboration With Security Agencies In Edo
