An intensive awareness campaign organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Ebonyi State chapter in collaboration with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has ended with a call on all transport workers to join forces with security stakeholders in the fight against terrorists and other insurgent activities in the country.
The call was made by the State Director of the agency, Dr. Emma Abah, during the campaign which took place at Spera-in-Deo Park, Abakaliki, where he explained that NOA decided to partner NURTW in the fight, considering the role they play in transporting suspected insurgents from one location to another.
Dr Abah defined security as a state of being or existence that is free from danger, fear, threat, anxiety and uncertainty, which transcends every facets of human endeavour, adding that it embraces the establishment of proactive and defensive measures to safeguard all persons, materials and information from every form of danger.
He regretted that Nigeria’s security situation was becoming worrisome as everyone is under tension. He added that the awareness campaign aimed at ensuring that all join hands and fight the menace.
He said: “As Nigeria’s security situation increasingly becomes a dilemma; one begins to ponder where to run to. Many have also asked, is it a crime to be born in Nigeria? Gone are the days when bombings were only witnessed on big movie screens.
“Now, we hear and even see where people, organisations and institutions are targeted and bombed. The security menace which upsets national stability and peace is becoming more rampant than ever, and we cannot fold our hands and watch without taking any action, no matter how little.”
Dr Abah reeled off some of the efforts of his agency at curbing the menace to include, putting up machinery in place to re-position the country’s image through establishment of National Information Centre, to coordinate all security information with a view to contributing her quota to the resolution of the current security challenges; collaborating with all relevant institutions- security agencies, transport corporations, religious bodies, traditional institutions and the press, among others in the fight against insecurity, as well as drumming up support for the transformation agenda from the premise of positive attitudinal change campaign aimed at encouraging Nigerians to imbibe national core values, so as to reduce crime in the society.
He further added that National Orientation Agency (NOA) has been involved in the task of re-orientating and encouraging Nigerians to take part actively and freely in discussions and decisions affecting their individual and collective welfare. He warned transport workers to ensure strict adherence to the security and safety tips given to them by the security agents.
In their presentations, the representatives of heads of security agencies present at the occasion such as police (SP Joseph Okoye), Nigerian Army (Captain M. Mohammed), Nigeria Immigration Service (Onu O. O.), Federal Road Safety Corps (M. J. Ukpeh) and Nigerian Prisons Service (Abuwa Innocent CSP), appreciated NOA for creating awareness on the persistent violence orchestrated by terrorists in the country, insisting that such was a sure way of fighting the menace.
Some of the security and safety tips they provided for the road users include “ensuring accurate documentation of the names of all those travelling through your parks; do not eat while driving; be cautious of vehicles following you at a close range; be careful to listen to the discussions by your passengers, you must not play loud music while on high ways; do not stop your vehicle and discuss along the road; always hide your driving documents and personal correspondence because they can help a thief to sell your vehicle or provide a cover story if stopped by the police.”
Others tips were “do not climb on items on highways while driving because they might be stuffed with nails or bombs; be mindful of those that deliberately hit the bumper of your vehicles thereby forcing them to a halt; do not give ride to strangers, including persons dressed in uniform as they may be armed robbers in disguise; stick to main roads and avoid lonely routes and always let close family members know where you are going and when you would likely return.”
They also emphasised the need for all security agencies to work in synergy, since no single agency can successfully defeat the insurgents unless through collaboration with sister agents.
While thanking NOA for bringing the sensitisation campaign to his domain, the Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Ebonyi State chapter, Comrade Anthony Oko Ewa, revealed that his administration has been working hard to ensure security of every road user.
He recalled that on assumption of office, he had ensured complete evacuation of all spoilt vehicles in the parks, since it was observed that they are usually abodes for criminals.
Comrade Ewa also hinted that his administration has launched a war against thuggery in all motor parks, even as he promised to launch another war against under-aged conductors.
While appreciating the security agents who were at hand to give them security tips, the NURTW chairman promised to work with the agency to further disseminate the information to the grassroots. He advised his members to adhere strictly to the instruction given them by the agency and the security agents.
Commenting on the awareness campaign, some of the participants; namely Nwali Felix, Emmanuel Utubor, Thomas Ibogu and Augustine Elom advised the agency to take the message to the hoteliers who, knowingly or unknowingly, provide shield for the perpetrators of these anti-social acts.
They also pleaded with the government to provide the parks with security gadgets to check every vehicle moving in and out of their parks. The gadgets, they believe, would go a long way in reducing crimes in motor parks.
