Follow Us on Google
From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Anambra governorship aspirant under the Labour Party platform, Mr. John Nwosu, has raised concerns about some provisions of the Anambra Homeland Security Law recently passed and signed into law in the state.
Nwosu, in a statement issued in Awka on Monday, warned that certain provisions of the law could be abused during implementation. He also pointed out the glaring deficit in some sections of the law, where the state government merely passed the buck on its constitutional responsibilities.
He said that the implementation of the law, if not properly guided, could worsen the already troubling security situation in the state.
“It boggles the mind, however, that in passing the law, the ANSG did not acknowledge and accept its primary constitutional ‘responsibility to protect’ Anambra State citizens and residents. Such an oversight is telling and reveals the prevailing didactic leadership mindset,” Nwosu stated.
“As belated as the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025 is, it is salutary and points in the right direction, but only if faithfully implemented and certain oblique provisions of the law are not abused.”
Other News
“In governance, language matters. There is a vast difference between the state ‘recognising the critical need’ and ‘acknowledging its constitutional role,’ or acting ‘in keeping with its constitutional responsibility.’”
“As the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), states in Section 14 (2), ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.’ The implicit and explicit lack of reference or acknowledgement of government’s functions in this regard, and coupled with the fact that most tasks under the law devolve on the local governments, traditional rulers, municipalities, communities, and private security companies, is rather troubling. Talk of passing the buck!”
Nwosu stated that the greater danger in the new law lies in functions that may be arrogated to “private security companies and relevant government agencies to enhance security operations,” even with the guardrail checks provided.
“The prevailing crisis of wanton brutality and dehumanisation being meted out by private companies acting as agents of ANSG in the tax collection and waste management sectors should have informed the need for better clarity in the definition of the role of armed private security companies.”
“Once again, and presumably with the best of intentions, the Soludo administration continues to exhibit its cluelessness in matters of governance. We hope that the implementation of this law will not overreach, thus further compounding a deeply troubling security situation in the state.”
“Finally, the Nigerian Constitution is the supreme law. Issues on which it has made pronouncements must be respected both in the letter and spirit by the states,” he stated.
