As Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State battles the spate of insecurity in the area, an academic, Dr. Abarasi Abbey-Hart has called for public-private partnership to actualize the installation of Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) around strategic areas in the LGA. 

Dr Abbey-Hart, who made this call via a personally signed statement entitled “Bonny Internal Security”, and made available to Kristina Reports, explained that the Bonny Local Government Council should partner with the traditional institution in the area and the organized private sector in Bonny LGA to achieve this objective.

“I propose a private-public partnership through strategic CCTV installations. All major hotels, clubs, big churches, big business ventures and some private individuals should install CCTV cameras.”

“Also, the government in partnership with chief’s council can install CCTV  cameras in strategic areas such as town, the beach, workers camp, coconut estate, the palace, and BIRC office just to mention a few.”

This call is coming on the heels of a recent kidnap incident involving five indigenes of the area, Thompson Allison, Daniel Hart, Dagogo Jackmay, Theophilus Ibiama, and Sunny Hart, who were whisked away by daredevil hoodlums from a funeral at Finiapiri-Ama in Banigo Isile-Ogono Community in Bonny LGA.

The ugly incident happened on September 12, 2020, thus making it one month and three days today with the whereabouts of the victims yet unknown.

The Research Scientist at University of Birmingham, United Kingdom posited that the project is possible given the constant electricity enjoyed in most parts of Bonny LGA, pointing out that the influx of people into the area in the wake of the Nigeria LNG train 7 project and completion of the Bonny-Bodo Road will exacerbate the security situation in the area.

“We have constant electricity to power it 24/7.

“It is a well-known fact that the Train 7 and Bonny-Bodo Road will attract people from all walks of life, backgrounds and characters into Bonny for the sake of business and employment. Presently, the insecurity on our water ways is short-circuiting small and medium enterprises in Bonny.”

“The influx of people will increase the burden on security personnel as well as catalyze the rising insecurity in Bonny and its vicinity. It is therefore imperative to put in place security architecture and machinery to checkmate threats and apprehend culprits.”  

He therefore urged a broad-based synergy to tackle the security challenges facing the area.