By Olubunmi Adeniyi
Lagos. February 20, 2013: The government of Bayelsa has announced the near completion of a N290 million project to deploy surveillance camera systems across the state for total visual coverage of the state and security of lives and properties.
Briefing members of the National Good Governance Tour in Yenagoa the State Capital on Monday, Gboribiogha Jonah, the Deputy Governor Bayelsa State recalls that the state previously had security challenges.
According to him, there was hardly any day that two to three deaths were not recorded in the state underscoring the government plans to invest in security.
The Deputy Governor discloses that with the centre the Government plans to cover the whole state including Local Government Areas.
He assures that when completed the Integrated Security Communication Control Centre project would help compliment the new bill on punishment of kidnappers signed into law in the State.
“What we are doing here will enable us at the end of the day to monitor everything happening in this state electronically”, he says.
Erijakpo Lawrence, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Works, says the project would be ready by end of March considering the nature of security equipment to be installed at the centre adding that the President is scheduled to commission the project.
He reveals that the contract was awarded in the sum of N290 million adding that the Centre will have a situation room where prompt decisions on security can be taken by the governor.
He notes that the facility is situated close to the Governor’s residence for ease of access to the Centre. However, further details on the project and gadgets were not disclosed because of security concerns, he adds.
Speaking at the project site, Labaran Maku, Minister of Information, said if there is anything the Niger Delta region needs it is peace and security.
The Minister who notes that the region was destabilised for almost 15 years because of issues of marginalisation that resulted in militancy says that, “we are solving it now with the amnesty programme and relative peace is returning to the region. If insecurity becomes a culture no development can take place.”
