CALABAR—As part of its proactive approach to sustain the peace and security in the state, the Cross River State Government is to set up a homeland security outfit to complement the efforts of the existing security agencies in the state.

Governor Ben Ayade

Governor Ben Ayade disclosed this while receiving the French Consul-General, Laurent Polonceaux and his entourage on a courtesy visit at his private residence in Calabar.

He explained that the essence of the Homeland Security Service which will be entirely non-arm bearing outfit, will be a complete departure from the traditional methods of policing.

Job for 3,000
Governor Ayade said that the envisaged Homeland Security which is expected to provide 3,000 jobs for Cross Riverians will concentrate but not limited to providing intelligence, profiling of visitors coming into the state and out of the state, including carrying out services such as neighbourhood watch and providing intelligent data and services to Police.

The governor who disclosed that the state will rely on the support of the government of France for technical and other logistics support for the security organisation, said: “With the visit of the Consul-General of France in Nigeria and with the useful deliberation we have had, with regards to the security challenges facing the Niger Delta at this period, and looking at how Lafarge can do business much better in a less security tense atmosphere, it becomes imperative for us to create a security architecture that can protect Lafarge and extend other services to other citizens and visitors to Cross River.

Technical partnership
“It was against this background that Cross River State Government, with technical partnership from the French government would be looking at the possibility of setting up a Cross River State Homeland Security Service.

“It will be a non-arm bearing outfit with assistance from the French government support necessary to succeed.”

Speaking earlier, the Consul-General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Polonceaux, who was accompanied on the visit by the Head of Lafarge Cement plant, Calabar, expressed gratitude to Governor Ayade for the fruitful meeting and harped on the need for a more healthy and robust cooperation between his country and Cross River, especially in the area of doing business with Lafarge and water provision which his country was currently providing for Obubra and Okpoma.