Sen. Kashim Shettima, Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, has urged the Federal Government to recruit additional security personnel towards tackling current security challenges in Nigeria.
Shettima said this during a public hearing on four bills in Abuja on Tuesday.
The bills were a bill for an act to establish the Nigerian Civil Defence Academy, Pandogari, a bill for an act to establish the Nigeria Peace Corps (NPC), a bill for an act to establish the National Unity Corps (NUC) and a bill for an act to establish the Nigeria Hunters’ Council (NHC).
He said that in the face of the current security challenges, the bills would help to further strengthen the existing security architecture in the country as well as help to provide gainful employments to teeming youths.
According to him, Nigeria is having only about 500, 000 security personnel comprising of the military, paramilitary and law enforcement agents and this number is grossly inadequate in the fight against security challenges.
“Egypt has a population of about 100 million people but it has about two million security personnel.
“In Nigeria where we have about 200 million people, the security personnel, inluding the police, army, immigration, etc are not up to 500, 000.
“By the year 2050, Nigeria will be the most populous black nation in the whole world. By 2050, Nigeria is estimated to have 450 million population.
“This calls for urgent passage of these bills to address the current issues of security challenges and youths unemployment,” he said.
Speaking, Prof. Dickson Akoh, National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria, urged the federal government to cancel its cash transfer programmes to less privileged Nigerians and channel such for payment to youths who were serving as community guards in states.
Akoh said the creation of the Peace Corps through an enabling law would create jobs for thousands of unemployed Nigerians.
He said the bill which was passed by the 8th National Assembly, was not accented to by President Muhammadu Buhari on the basis of lack of funds and that the agency had similar role with that of the police.
Akoh, however, assured that the current Peace Corps Bill which was being sponsored by Sen. Ali Ndume had been rejigged to address issues raised by the President.
The Peace Corps boss said the organisation was already on ground in most states with the required manpower waiting for the enabling law for its operation.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said insecurity had become increasingly a concern, making it important for government to focus on resolving it in the interest of peace and progress of the nation.
Lawan was represented by the Deputy Senate Leader, Sen. Robert Boroffice.
“Focusing on resolving the menace requires the examination and improvement of the operational efficiency of existing agencies and possibly the creation and enhancement of new structures,” he said
