The Kukah Centre, on Thursday, partnered with the Kaduna government to improve ‘Community Security Initiatives for Accountable Service Delivery’.

The project is supported by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria. It is also  funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, implemented by Tetra Tech International Development in partnership with the Kukah Centre.

Terseer Bamber, the project manager for Improving Community Security Initiatives for Accountable Service Delivery, said the initiative aimed to support the strengthening of legal and operational frameworks for state-sanctioned security outfits across Nigeria.

He said the workshop was a validation exercise to review and strengthen the assessment report on the Kaduna State Vigilance Service law, identifying gaps and making recommendations for improvement.

Mr Bamber added that the centre had engaged with the Kaduna government officials, signed a memorandum of understanding, and conducted an assessment of the law establishing the Kaduna State Vigilance Service.

According to him, the goal is to strengthen the service to better tackle security challenges, particularly banditry and kidnapping. This is achieved by identifying grey areas for improvement and providing supportive recommendations.

“This approach focuses on enhancing the service’s effectiveness rather than criticising it,” Mr Bamber said.

He disclosed that the Kukah Centre was focusing on two regions, adding that in the North-West, its attention has been on Sokoto, Kaduna, and Katsina. He said in the North-Central part of Nigeria, it was working in Plateau and Benue.

“We are working on implementing a project in these states, with plans to expand to other states in the regions and potentially beyond,” Mr Bamber added.

Also, James Kanyip, the attorney general and commissioner for justice, said the law was first promulgated in 2016 and reviewed in 2021.

Mr Kanyip said the meeting was to review and validate recommendations from the Kukah Centre that was assisting the state government in reviewing the law without funding. The commissioner commended the centre for its efforts and expressed appreciation for its invaluable support.

Mr Kanyip said the final recommendations from the meeting would determine the proposed amendments to the Kaduna State Vigilance Service Law 2021.

Also, Sule Shuaibu, the commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said the purpose of the meeting was to  review and provide inputs on the proposed amendments to laws governing the activities of the state vigilance service.

He said the laws in question were promulgated in 2016 and amended in 2021, but some areas still required adjustments to align them with extant international best practices.

The commissioner highlighted the importance of gathering feedback from critical stakeholders to ensure the laws were effective and adaptable for KADVS operations.

(NAN)