Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has indicated plans to revive the State’s Neighbourhood Watch, a community-based security initiative established by the previous administration.
The governor disclosed this during a meeting with the outfit’s leaders behind closed doors at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday night.
Following the meeting, Wogbo Lawrence, the Head of Command for the Rivers State Neighbourhood Watch, expressed optimism over the governor’s assurances after years of neglect. He explained that, despite the absence of government support and remuneration, the security outfit has managed to maintain approximately 1,150 personnel deployed across the 23 local government areas of the state.
The Neighbourhood Watch was established with the passing of a law in March 2018. However, its full operation was stalled during the last administration due to political opposition.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State had accused the outfit of being a tool to intimidate its members during the 2019 elections. The renewed interest in the Neighbourhood Watch signals the current administration’s intention to enhance community-based security measures across the state.
