1 Alhaji Grema Terab PROJECT BORNO 2019 ROADMAP FOR A SECURED BORNO
2 BORNO TAFI JAM IYYA ROADMAP FOR A SECURED BORNO No doubt, that these are defining moments for us all at this point of Borno s history. The activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect over the recent years have led to the loss of thousands of our loved ones and tons of belongings, worth hundreds of billions of naira. Consequently, economic activities have literally been brought to a halt. Let us be reminded that the survival of any society is tied to its economic activities, in fact, the main reason that government exists is to safeguard the lives, properties and activities of her citizens. While we appreciate the gallantry of our armed forces and the efforts of the president in ensuring that no stone is left unturned in degrading the Boko Haram sect and getting rid of them in most parts of Borno, there has been the need for the Chief Security Officer of the state to rise to the responsibility, to play his role and to exhibit seriousness in complementing the efforts of the FG led Armed Forces and in consolidating on the gains recorded in the war against insurgency, in our major towns and most especially, the state capital and its environs, in order to reduce the vulnerability of our homes, villages, towns, cities and places businesses, to attacks from the enemy, and at the same time, to boost the confidence of investors within and outside the state. Assurance of a safe enabling environment is needed on the part of the BOSG for businesses to thrive and to attract more investment into the state. SOCIETY Needs Security to exist While the FG led Armed Forces have done their own part on improving level of security in Borno
3 It is not wise for us to continue to depend on aid, if at all we are interested in economic revival, prosperity and development of our beloved Borno and her traumatized citizens. The fact that economic activities have to pick up as soon as possible, the Borno State Government must urgently invest in security, in order to secure future generations and investments. Currently, the prevalent Security challenges to our existence and to our businesses are: 1. Incessant bombings 2. Indigenes cannot freely move beyond 5km from the borders of Maiduguri metropolis and other liberated towns without being kidnapped or losing their precious lives in the hands of terrorists. 3. We still have no guarantee of Security to the biggest contributor to our economy, i.e; farming activities, which unfortunately transcends into more food insecurity, high unemployment rate and extreme poverty. Therefore, in order to overcome the above mentioned challenges and to boost the confidence of investors and citizens alike, on the security of their investments, and their places of businesses respectively, our team have marshaled out an ambitious, yet feasible, security roadmap, to make Borno safe again: 1. Introducing the office of the Borno State Security Adviser: We intend to create an office that will coordinate the activities of all the security agencies operating in the state, to enable synergy between them, and, at the same time, to relate directly with the public, help in information gathering, as well as the proper and timely utilization of such information, which is none other than the office of the Borno State Security Adviser. 2. Information Gathering & Proper Emergency Response System: While there has been so much calls by Security agencies, alongside outside observers on the indigenes of Borno, whom I believe are all victims, to come up with any helpful or useful information regarding Boko Haram insurgency, it is unfortunate, that this has been hindered mainly by the lack of guarantee of information confidentiality and lack of clearly defined communication channel. To swiftly counter this set back, we intend to establish a Toll-Free Call Center, one which will be managed by the office of the Borno State Security Adviser. As effective response to emergencies have always made the difference in life and death situations all over the world. The Call-Centre will in that vein, ensure proper information gathering and efficient response to emergencies, in
4 order to neutralize threats before serious harm is done, so as to save lives. This will also help in concealing the identity of the citizen that gave the vital information, through the call center. 3. Proper Policing and use of Technology: It should be noted that, the most important aspect in policing is always being ahead of the enemy. Our policing is inadequate, not because they have been outnumbered by criminal minds, but because it has been very difficult for them to properly communicate and to coordinate their very own activities, let alone clamping down on criminal activities effectively. In short, we all know that they are good at making arrests after incidents, but not before incidents, mainly because they lack equipment and gadgets to aid them in their honorable work. Since the status-quo have failed woefully, we must, have new and effective ways of doing things. Our policing must be proactive rather than being reactive. In this regard, we intend to improve our policing in the following ways: a. We need to boost the presence of the police on our streets, which is why we intend to equip almost all policemen with vehicles. Contrary to the imprudent usual practice by our governors of purchasing a Hilux van at the rate of 25 million naira, same amount would have procured 20 ( Golf ) cars equipped with communication gadgets, tracking, and navigation devices, well branded and equipped for patrol. Hence, we can acquire 1,000 Golfs with the amount of buying 50 Hilux vans. Moreover, the Golf has been proven to be cheaply maintainable and suitable to our terrain, as it is the most preferred for commercial use. While ordinary Jincheng bikes will be equipped, branded and made suitable for police use at not more than three hundred thousand naira ( 300,000:00) each. The tracking devices will help in monitoring the location and movement of each patrol team and in checkmating their activities, so that the teams closer to a threatening event are held accountable in the event of a failure; or, for the situation room and the toll-free call center, to direct a team to a location of distress call. Android device will be used for sharing information such as pictures of suspects, lost persons or vehicles. In addition to that, it will also aid the teams in navigating themselves round our streets using Google map, as all streets will be named and uploaded to the map. A management company will be created through public private partnership, to ensure adequate maintenance and increased life span for the vehicles.
5 Police stations will also be equipped with communication systems, biometric data capture devices and other vital gadgets. Forensic labs will be set up to aid thorough investigations. b. A pole of Solar powered 360 0 CCTV camera equipped with internet router may not cost the state more than ( 350,000) three hundred and fifty thousand naira within the next 2 years, which means, one thousand (1,000) poles may not cost the state more than three hundred and fifty million naira ( 350,000,000.00). CCTV cameras have been one of the best surveillance tools all over the world. And if I may ask, who needs proper surveillance of her metropolis and major towns more than Borno of today? Not many! This is why we intend to plant at least one thousand poles, to be managed by the Central Security Control & Command Unit, under the Office of the Borno State Security Adviser, and eventually, to possibly add more, depending on need and funds available. c. The use of drones to compliment surveillance will be very vital, especially at the outskirts of our major towns and the metropolis, to monitor and inform security personnel of any fishy movements of suspected persons. This will help a lot in securing our farm lands and roads leading to them. Air surveillance has been proven to be highly effective in war situations. It has also very expensive until the development of drones. A surveillance drone with better handling, flight time and near zero running cost, is obtainable at about 5 million naira. Considering its benefits and affordability, there should be no reason why we must not obtain adequate number of surveillance drones, especially when no civilian JTF member or any security personnel will risk losing their lives in such operations. d. Watch towers will be stationed at recommended intervals along the borders of liberated towns and the state metropolis as well as checkpoints, in order to aid security personnel in detecting movements of terrorist from afar. 4. Central Situation, Control & Command unit: a. This unit will control the CCTV and Drone cameras b. The data collated from the CCTV cameras, and drones will be transmitted to this unit for analysis; the information will be used to engage the relevant Security Agencies, Ambulances, Hospitals or fire stations etc. for the required action, where and when necessary. c. Track and Monitor patrol teams in collaboration with Security agencies. d. Supervision of patrols, especially hot chases, with the aid of live pictures transmitted by the CCTV and drones cameras. e. Use information from call center to direct the relevant security agency, ambulance or fire stations to neutralize threats, or save lives accordingly.
6 f. Mobile Sub-units of CSCCU will be set up on busses, to be used for integrated and thorough supervision of surveillance tools and at the same time, to serve as launching station for surveillance drones. Yes, improving overall security and placing our police ahead of the enemy is the ultimate task, but we have also tried to see how we can cut cost, create jobs and ensure efficiency in the process. Well, security is all about closing gaps, It is obvious that the above plans coupled with community policing will go a long way in closing the gaps that have been left wide open by the current administration. Like I said earlier, we have done things in the same way for a very long time without the desired results. It s now time for us to do things in new and effective ways for us to get out of the woods. Against all odds, if we base our politics on issues, challenges and solutions that will ensure our unity, prosperity and development, then, Borno Shall Rise soonest. #BornoTafiJam Iyya!!! #NewThinkingNewProduct #IssueBasedCampaign #ProjectBorno2019 #SecurityRoadMap #BluePrint Thank you!