The Niger State Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Emmanuel Umaru, says the ministry had a budget allocation of about N500 million to purchase security gadgets for the vigilante corps.

Mr Umaru said this during the 2023 budget screening by the House of Assembly Committee on Security and Intelligence in Minna on Wednesday.

Mr Umaru explained that Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello-led administration had made remarkable efforts to enhance the security architecture to discharge their duties in the state effectively.

He said that to strengthen internal security, the present administration will use every tactical way.

Other allocations, the commissioner said, were for the installation of CCTV surveillance systems around Minna, mitigation and response in 25 local government areas, and other security activities across the state.

Responding, the chairman of the committee and member representing Lavun Constituency, Jibrin Baba, said the screening exercise was to look at the proposed budget allocation of the ministry in the 2023 budget proposal.

He added that the screening was for the commissioner to explain to the committee how the new ministry intended to access funds for the mobilisation of various security agencies.

Also, Ahmed Bello, a member representing Agwara Constituency, tasked the ministry to put in more effort in sourcing funds for the state Security Trust Fund established to complement the activities of security agencies in the state.

(NAN)