FG, States Working To End Kidnapping, Says Utuama BY SAM DUVWODE DELTA State Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, SAN, has given an account of the various efforts being made by government both at the federal and state levels in the country to stamp out the activities of kidnappers in the country. Speaking during the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), United Kingdom (UK) Convention 2014, on the topic, “Kidnapping and Security Threats To Our Nation, Government’s Efforts in Combating the Menace”, Utuama said the combination of employment generation, poverty reduction programmes and sundry preventive measures, have greatly brought about a reduction in the act of kidnapping in the country. He said, “The combination of employment and poverty reduction programmes, preventive kidnapping measures as well as the speedy trials of kidnap cases and forfeiture of premises where kidnap victims are kept, are yielding positive results. “From the foregoing, the employment of poverty reduction programmes of the federal and state governments, has reduced the pool of unemployed youths available, to be recruited into kidnapping gangs. The diehard kidnappers are seriously deterred from this evil trade by the Joint Security Patrol surveillance of our highways and cities, and the raiding of flashpoints and kidnappers den. Utuama added that, “The speedy trial of kidnap cases and the stringent punishment of convicts have equally been helpful. In this way, the menace of kidnapping is reduced and can hardly constitute security threat to our nation. Although, it remains upsetting to the peace and security of the individual victim, we should be rest assured that before long, with all the jobs generation and poverty reduction programmes being pursued with the desired political will, kidnapping will be stamped out in our country and free our people from the threat”. According to him, Nigeria has the wherewithal to eradicate kidnapping and is doing everything in this regard to stem the wave, noting that, the Federal Government programme of Agricultural Transformation Agenda has for the first time, succeeded in getting back to lend seeds and fertilizer companies and agro-dealers to supply agricultural imputes directly to farmers instead of government using its funds to do direct procurement and distribution. In this way, it is intended that Nigerian farmers will be empowered to accelerate food production, create millions of jobs as well as result in huge savings in foreign exchange being spent on importing food. Also, Prof. Utuama noted that one major thrust of the drive of the socio-economic policy of ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ is investment in the agricultural sector. He said that the state government launched the Youth Empowerment through Agriculture Scheme programme to empower youths through agriculture to create a succession of farmers in the State to take over from peasant farmers. While in the education sector, he said a dramatic transformation has taken place in the area of school infrastructure upgrade in the State. And to ensure that no Delta child is deprived of education, as a social service, the state government initiated the policy of compulsory free education for every child of school age in the State. Thus, primary to secondary school education in Delta State is free. He asserted that Education Marshals have been appointed and deployed to take children of school age from the streets into schools. Prof. Utuama noted that youths are being trained to acquire maritime skills, culinary skills, environmental management, and rig operations, adding that the Delta State government adopted the Trinidad &Tobago development model to fast track youth skill attainment with a view of building an inclusive resilient and sustainable economy through economic diversification. “All of these programmes of the federal and state governments, are meant to reduce the level of unemployment and poverty in our country in general and Delta State in particular by offering opportunities to every hand that is willing, work to innovate and set up enterprises and reduce the number of people available for the “kidnapping industry” and make our country a safe and peaceful place for everyone. The few persons who still find attraction in kidnapping will be dealt with according to the law
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 09:29:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015